About Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, called Bakrid or Id-ul-Zuha in India, is the Islamic festival of sacrifice, held on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah as pilgrims complete the Hajj. It remembers Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son at God's command. In 2027 it is expected on Monday, 17 May 2027 in India, though the final date depends on the sighting of the moon.
Eid al-Adha is the second of Islam's two great festivals, after Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan. In Kerala it is called the bigger of the two, Valiya Perunnal, while Eid al-Fitr is Cheriya Perunnal, the smaller one. The name Eid al-Adha is Arabic for "festival of the sacrifice".
What is the story behind Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha remembers Prophet Ibrahim, known in the Bible as Abraham, who was ready to sacrifice his son when commanded by God, and the ram God provided in the son's place. The account appears in the Quran in Surah 37. Muslim tradition identifies the son as Ismail (Ishmael), the son of Hajar; Britannica notes that some early Muslim sources named Ishaq (Isaac), but the Ismail reading came to prevail.
Hadith literature adds that Satan tried to talk Ibrahim, then Hajar and Ismail, out of obeying, and that the family drove him off by throwing stones. Pilgrims on the Hajj re-enact this at Mina on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah by throwing seven pebbles at a pillar, then sacrificing an animal, trimming or shaving their hair and returning to Mecca. Muslims elsewhere in the world mark the same morning with Eid prayers and their own sacrifice.
Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him.
The verse is often quoted on Bakrid to make the point that the sacrifice is an act of devotion and charity, not an offering God needs.
How is the date of Eid al-Adha decided in India?
Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and the month begins only when the new crescent moon is sighted. Because a lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year, Bakrid comes about eleven days earlier every year and moves through all the seasons over about 33 years.
India often celebrates a day after Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, because the thin crescent is harder to see from India on the first evening it appears in Arabia. In 2026, for example, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia sighted the Dhul Hijjah moon on 17 May and held Eid on 27 May. Indian moon-sighting committees did not see it that evening, so most of India held Bakrid on 28 May. Kerala, where Muslim organisations announce the date on their own sightings, ended up with holidays on both 27 and 28 May.
- 9 Dhul HijjahDay of Arafah
Pilgrims gather at Arafat near Mecca, the high point of the Hajj. The Takbir, the declaration of God's greatness, begins after the dawn prayer.
- 10 Dhul HijjahEid al-Adha
Eid prayer in the morning at a mosque or open Eidgah, followed by a sermon, then the sacrifice, family visits and meals.
- 11β13 Dhul HijjahDays of Tashreeq
The sacrifice may continue over these days. The Takbir is recited after prayers until the afternoon prayer on the 13th.
How is Bakrid celebrated in India?
Bakrid in India starts with the Eid namaz, often in large open-air Eidgahs where worshippers pray in long rows, dressed in new or their best clothes. After the prayer, families who can afford it sacrifice an animal, most often a goat or sheep, which is where the popular name Bakri Eid, the goat Eid, comes from. The meat is divided into three portions: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor. Many families now also donate a sacrifice, paying for an animal to be slaughtered on their behalf so that the meat reaches people in need.
Which animals may be sacrificed, and where, is governed by state law and local rules in India. That is a matter for the authorities and the community, not for a greeting.
The rest of the day is visits, food and Eidi, the gift of money or presents for children. Meat from the sacrifice goes into the day's cooking, often biryani and curries. In Kerala's Malabar region the table has pathiri, rice and meat dishes, and households are expected to feed the needy as well as their own family.
| Name | Where it is used | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Adha | Arabic; worldwide | Festival of the sacrifice |
| Bakrid, Bakri Eid | Across India | The goat Eid, from the animal most often sacrificed |
| Id-ul-Zuha | Government holiday lists in India | Official spelling of Eid al-Adha |
| Eid-ul-Azha | Urdu speakers in India and Pakistan | Urdu form of the Arabic name |
| Valiya Perunnal, Bali Perunnal | Kerala | The big festival; the festival of the sacrifice |
| Kurban BayramΔ± | Turkey | Festival of the sacrifice |
| Tabaski | West Africa | Local name for the festival |
How do you wish someone on Eid al-Adha?
To wish someone on Eid al-Adha you say "Eid Mubarak", meaning "blessed Eid", or "Bakrid Mubarak" and "Eid al-Adha Mubarak". Among friends, Arabic phrases such as "Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum", "may God accept it from us and from you", are also used. A good message mentions family, faith and the sharing that the day is built around.
Eid Mubarak to you and everyone at home. Save me a seat at the table, and some of your ammi's biryani.
Wishing you and your family a blessed Eid al-Adha. Enjoy the day off and the time together.
Eid Mubarak to you in Mina. May your Hajj be accepted and every prayer you made at Arafat be answered.
Eid Mubarak. Thank you for always sharing your festival with us. Our door is open for sweets this evening.
Valiya Perunnal ashamsakal. Hope the house is full and the pathiri is still warm.
Bakrid Mubarak from all of us here. We missed standing together at the Eidgah this year.
Warm wishes on Eid al-Adha. May the festival bring you peace and good health.
Do
- Wait for the moon announcement before fixing a greeting for "tomorrow".
- If you are vegetarian and a neighbour sends a meat dish, a polite "thank you, we don't eat meat" is normal and understood.
- Wish Muslim colleagues on the day, and avoid scheduling important meetings on it.
Avoid
- Don't make jokes about the goat or post pictures of animals being slaughtered.
- Don't turn a greeting into a debate about animal sacrifice.
- Don't assume Bakrid falls on the same day as in Saudi Arabia.
For the other Eid, see Eid al-Fitr, which ends Ramadan. Muharram, the next Islamic month, opens the new year and includes the solemn day of Ashura.
How to wish someone on Eid al-Adha
"Eid Mubarak" is right for Bakrid, and "Bakrid Mubarak" or "Eid al-Adha Mubarak" are just as common. A good wish speaks of faith, family and sharing, since the meat of the sacrifice is divided with the poor and with neighbours. Friends who are on Hajj that year deserve a message of their own. You don't need to eat meat or mention the sacrifice to send a warm greeting.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is Eid al-Adha in 2026 and 2027?
Eid al-Adha is set by the Islamic lunar calendar, so it falls on a different date each year. In 2027 it falls 11 days earlier than in 2026.
- 2026may vary by location
- 2027may vary by location
Frequently asked questions
When is Eid al-Adha in 2027?
Eid al-Adha 2027 falls on Monday, 17 May 2027, beginning at sunset the evening before. The exact date can vary by location and local calendar, so confirm with your community.
Why is Eid al-Adha called the festival of sacrifice?
Eid al-Adha means "festival of the sacrifice" in Arabic. It remembers Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son at God's command and the ram given in his place, and Muslims who can afford it sacrifice an animal and share its meat with family, friends and the poor.
Why is Bakrid celebrated a day later in India than in Saudi Arabia?
Bakrid falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, and the month begins when the new crescent moon is sighted locally. The crescent is often visible in Arabia a day before it can be seen from India, so Indian Muslims frequently celebrate one day after Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
What is the difference between Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fast and is known for charity given before the Eid prayer and sweet dishes. Eid al-Adha comes about seventy days later, at the end of the Hajj, and centres on the sacrifice of an animal whose meat is shared.
How long does Eid al-Adha last?
Eid al-Adha begins on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah and the sacrifice may continue until the 13th, so the festival lasts up to four days. In India the public holiday is usually one day, and some states such as Kerala add a second.
Can non-Muslims say Eid Mubarak on Bakrid?
Yes. "Eid Mubarak" and "Bakrid Mubarak" are welcome from friends, neighbours and colleagues of any faith, and you do not need to eat meat or mention the sacrifice to send a warm Eid al-Adha greeting.
What does Valiya Perunnal mean?
Valiya Perunnal means "the big festival" in Malayalam and is Kerala's common name for Bakrid. Eid al-Fitr is called Cheriya Perunnal, "the small festival", and the older name Bali Perunnal means "the festival of the sacrifice".
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