Thiruvananthapuram: Muslims across Kerala on Sunday celebrated Eid-ul-Azha, also called Bakra Eid, with reverence and exuberance.
People arrived at Mosques and specially erected prayer centres across the state to offer special Eid prayers.
Muslims in the state rank second with 24 per cent of the 3.20 crore population and districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kochi witnessed large turnouts of the devout.
Right from the morning, Muslim men and women dressed in their best attires arrived at mosques and also at specially erected Eidgahs.
Muslims around the world make animal sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha to commemorate the sacrifice offered by Prophet Ibrahim (Abrahim).
According to belief, the Allah ordered Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail. When the blindfolded father moved the blade on his son's throat to carry out the divine command, Allah replaced Ismail with a goat, sparing Ibrahim the sorrow. It is to celebrate the absolute submission of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah and the saving of Ismail's life that Muslims offer animal sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha.
It coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca and the sacrificial meat is distributed after the Eid prayers among the family, friends and the needy and the poor.