AS Muslims around the world commence grand celebrations of one of the most significant festivals in Islam, Eid, the spotlight often falls on the different activities done to celebrate the occasion.

Eid celebration is a prominent festival celebrated by Muslims all over the world to commemorate the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail as an act of obedience to God.

The period falls on the tenth day of Dhu-al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The exact date of the celebration depends on the official moon sighting and follows the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which is a mandatory act of worship for Muslims who meet certain conditions.

It symbolises faith, devotion, and obedience to God’s commands, emphasising the importance of sacrifice in the form of an animal (typically a sheep, goat, cow, or camel).

These feasts not only bring families and friends together but also serve as a vibrant expression of cultural and religious heritage.

They partake in various activities during this period, including Eid prayer, a ritual cleansing of the body and soul symbolising readiness to approach Allah with humility, and exchange of gifts, and food. In some Muslim-dominated areas, local officials participate in a procession to greet the Emir, among other activities.

Other activities that most Muslims look out for include the slaughtering of animals (ram, cow, goat, and camel) which is shared among friends and families as well as the self-adornments in new clothes and henna for the females.

The ICIR had earlier reported how many Muslim women adorn their hands and feet with exquisite henna patterns as a means to enhance their inherent beauty and express their cultural heritage.

The ICIR spoke with some Muslim faithful who shared their expectations ahead of the Sallah celebrations. Amina Ibrahim from Kebbi state said she looks forward to the food and partying among families.

“What I look forward to in Eid celebrations is to see different people coming to slaughter and roast their animals in the same place, the exchange of meat and food between families and neighbours and wearing of new clothes,” she said.

She added that the major highlight of the celebration is the slaughtering of animals.

“This Eid festival is not about cooking food but slaughtering either camel, Cow, ram, or goat. But majorly in the society that I am in, the north, during Eid we cook, masa and miyan taushe and also Tuwo shinkafa da miyan kuka and man shanu.

“And of course, the Muslims who are capable, go to hajj(pilgrimage) to worship,” she added.

Another Muslim, Adeyinka Adeyemi from Kwara state spoke about the uniqueness of the Eid day (popularly referred to as Sallah day in Nigeria) but how many families will not be celebrating it like they do in previous years due to the high cost of things in the country.

“Majorly every household loves to eat something unique which they hardly eat on ordinary days just to make the Sallah day unique. These foods have no major cultural significance as such.

“Even at that, many families cook pounded yam and rice but this year has it different, many households can hardly afford the yam or rice now. This year’s Sallah celebration will be different. People are just managing their lives and as such cannot afford to make the sallah day unique as it used to be in the past,” he said.

Although there may not be a particular universal food made to celebrate the Sallah, the celebration, however, is mostly celebrated with in the slaughtering of animals together and sharing of food among family and friends.