Gurban Bayrami in Azerbaijan

Dates Vary

Gurban Bayrami in Azerbaijan, also known as Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban and Feast of Sacrifice, is an Islamic holiday which honors the readiness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Upon seeing Ibrahim's willingness, God spared his son and provided a ram as a sacrifice in place of the boy.

Due to the difference between the Islamic lunar calendar and the globally recognized Gregorian calendar, the date of the holiday changes every year. Traditionally, Gurban Bayrami lasts for three consecutive days. In Azerbaijan, two of those three days are state holidays.

The holiday centers around the sacrifice of an animal, typically a sheep. The owner should divide the meat into three parts - one for his family, one for the poor and one for his relatives, friends and neighbors.

During Gurban Bayrami in Azerbaijan, Muslims gather in mosques for a special prayer, which takes place after the sun has fully risen but before it reaches its zenith. Once the prayer is over, people exchange holiday greetings and gifts, visit neighbors and relatives and enjoy a daylong feast.