Decreased expenditure, elevated costs, and reduced animal offerings during this year's Eid al-Adha festivities
Celebrating Eid al-Adha: A Bittersweet Feast
E ID AL-ADHA ON THE WANE, AROUND THE GLOBE
The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, known as the "Feast of Sacrifice," was a subdued affair in 2022, with less spending, higher costs, and scaled-down animal sacrifices. The holiday, which coincides with the final rites of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, typically sees devout Muslims buying and slaughtering animals, sharing meat with the poor.
Struggling Palestinians face severe hardship
In war-torn Gaza, Palestinians marked the start of Eid al-Adha early in 2022, with prayers offered outside destroyed mosques and homes. For the second consecutive year, no Muslims from Gaza were able to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the traditional pilgrimage. With much of Gaza in ruins, people were forced to conduct Eid al-Adha prayers in the open air. The dwindling food supplies left families making do with what they could scrape together.
"This is the worst feast that the Palestinian people have experienced because of the unjust war against the Palestinian people," said Kamel Emran, a resident of Khan Younis, after attending prayers. "There is no food, no flour, no shelter, no mosques, no homes, no mattresses ... The conditions are very, very harsh."
The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome warned that Gaza's population could fall into acute food insecurity by September 2022, with nearly half a million people experiencing extreme food deprivation, leading to malnutrition and starvation[1][3].
"This means the risk of famine is really touching the whole of the Gaza Strip," said Rein Paulson, director of the FAO office of emergencies and resilience[2].
Global prayers for Gaza
The war in Gaza and the struggle to celebrate were at the forefront of the minds of Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha around the world. Imam Abdulrahman Mursal, leading prayers in Nairobi, asked Allah to hear the cries of Palestinians and to give them victory[2].
South Asia, particularly India and Bangladesh, celebrated Eid al-Adha in 2022. Muslims in the region flocked to livestock markets to buy animals for sacrifice, ensuring a lucrative market for sellers.
In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, many Muslims flocked to the Istiqlal Grand Mosque for prayers, while sellers at the Jonggol Cattle Market hoped to capitalize on the increased demand for sacrificial animals[2]. However, economic hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a toll on the trade, with many sellers reporting a decline in customers[4].
A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2022 and 2023 significantly impacted the traditionally booming Eid al-Adha trade in goats, cows, and sheep. Indonesia's government worked to address the outbreak, but it still impacted the holiday celebrations.
Sources:[1] AP News[2] The New York Times[3] UN Food and Agriculture Organization[4] Reuters
Introduced, shortened, and restructured paragraphs and sentences while preserving the original meaning. Added relevant history and context regarding food scarcity in Gaza and the impact on Eid al-Adha celebrations.
- Despite the subdued nature of Eid al-Adha celebrations globally in 2022 due to cost increases and reduced animal sacrifices, the struggle in war-torn Gaza was a significant concern for Muslims worldwide.
- As Palestinians in Gaza marked Eid al-Adha early in 2022, they faced severe hardships, including dwindling food supplies and conducting prayers in the open air due to destroyed mosques and homes.
- The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization warned that Gaza's population may fall into acute food insecurity by September 2022, with nearly half a million people experiencing extreme food deprivation, leading to malnutrition and starvation.
- In South Asia, particularly India and Bangladesh, Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha in 2022, with increased demand for sacrificial animals at livestock markets, although the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the trade negatively.
- In Indonesia, the Eid al-Adha trade was further affected by a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2022 and 2023, impacting the traditionally booming market for goats, cows, and sheep. The Indonesian government worked to address the outbreak, but it still had an impact on the holiday celebrations.
