IN PIX: India celebrates Eid-ul-Azha with fervour

The festival of 'offering' or 'qurbani', Eid-al-Azha, is being celebrated across India on Saturday with religious fervour and gaiety.

Muslims observe the festival on the tenth day of the last month of Islamic calender 'Zul-hijja'.

According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Abraham was blessed with his son Ishmael at a very advanced age and nurtured a deep love for the boy.

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Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, obeying God who, in the end, allowed him to sacrifice a sheep instead.

The President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion.

Prayers were offered in mosques across the country.

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In Andhra Pradesh, elaborate arrangements have been made in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad for Eid prayers.

Special arrangements have been made at Secunderabad Parade Grounds and Mir Alam Idgah where Eid prayers are offered as part of the celebrations.

In Lucknow, Muslims, along with their children are heading towards Eidgah of AishBagh, Teelewali Masjid, Juma Mosque and other mosques to offer Eid prayers.

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Muslims in Kerala had offered prayers on Friday on the occasion of Eid al-Azha.

Meanwhile, Eid-al-Azha is being celebrated across India on Saturday.

The commemoration is one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar as it symbolises obedience and loyalty to God.

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The festival also marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage, considered as one of the five pillars of Islam.

The tradition of the Eid-al-Adha festival also enjoins all those who can afford a sacrifice to do so, and to distribute the meat of the slaughtered animals to the needy, after keeping back what they need for themselves.

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