Muslims across Turkey on Tuesday welcomed the four-day Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) with millions of people paying visits to loved ones and many others slaughtering animals as a reminder of the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God as an act of obedience and submission Today`s Zaman reported.
Eid al-Adha is Arabic for Feast of the Sacrifice (in Turkish, Kurban Bayramı) and is one of two holidays on the Islamic calendar, starting on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah each year.
For many, Eid al-Adha holiday began at the mosques for the special Eid prayer that takes place after sunrise. Following this, animals were slaughtered. A section of the meat is distributed to the poor along with other charitable donations, as per Islamic tradition. While many visited their families on this special occasion, many others prefer taking vacations in popular tourist destinations.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc, who performed Eid prayer in Ankara's biggest mosque, Kocatepe Mosque, wished a happy Eid al-Adha for all Muslims across the world. After celebrating each other's Eid in the mosque following the prayer, Arınc told reporters that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government will soon introduce legislation that will reduce the duration of compulsory military service from 15 to 12 months as soon as possible.