14/06/2024
EID AL-ADHA, THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE IS THE SECOND OF THE TWO MAIN HOLIDAYS CELEBRATED IN ISLAM
The eve of this festival is tomorrow Saturday 15th June and the Feast commences on Sunday. This year the Government has extended the traditional 3 day holiday to 8 days.
The festival is known as "Kurban Bayramı" in Turkish and it holds great significance for Türkiye and its people. This religious holiday is based on the Hijri calendar and is celebrated annually, occurring 11 days earlier each year according to the Gregorian calendar.
For Türkiye, the Sacrifice Feast is an important religious and cultural celebration that brings families together and promotes unity within the community. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and acts of kindness. During this holiday, families gather to offer prayers at the mosque and engage in various traditions and rituals.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY?
The history of the Sacrifice Feast dates back to the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. As the story goes, just as Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, God intervened and provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice. This event symbolizes obedience, selflessness, and faith. The act of sacrifice during this holiday involves the slaughtering of a permissible animal, such as a sheep, goat, or cow. The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: one-third is given to the needy and less fortunate, one-third is shared with family, friends, and neighbours, and the remaining one-third is kept for personal consumption. This distribution emphasizes the values of charity, community, and sharing.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SACRIFICE FEAST IN TURKISH CULTURE
Sacrifice Feast holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in Türkiye. It is a time when families come together, visit relatives, and exchange heartfelt greetings. Many people travel to their hometowns or gather in major cities, including Istanbul, to celebrate the holiday. Mosques are filled with worshippers attending special prayer services, and the streets come alive with festive decorations, traditional music, and the aroma of delicious food.
TIPS AND IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE SACRIFICE FEAST
Respect local customs: Sacrifice Feast is a religious holiday for the Turkish people, so it's important to be respectful of their traditions and practices. If you come across sacrificial ceremonies or prayers, maintain a respectful distance and observe quietly.
Sample traditional food: Indulge in the culinary delights of Sacrifice Feast by trying traditional Turkish dishes. Look for local restaurants that serve "sac kavurma," a special meat dish prepared during the holiday.
A MESSAGE FROM ALANYA MAYOR OSMAN ÖZÇELİK
Underlining that all services that may be needed will be available at the sacrificial sales and sacrificial slaughtering places where citizens will receive service during the Eid, Mayor Osman Özçelik said, “Our certified expert butchers will provide slaughtering services to our citizens throughout the day. Everyone will be able to perform the duty of sacrifice in accordance with Islamic conditions and by observing health and hygiene conditions. "We will be on duty with all our teams throughout the city, keeping the satisfaction of our citizens at the forefront," he said.
https://www.alanya.bel.tr/Haber/93561/ALANYA-BELEDIYESI-KURBAN-BAYRAMI-HAZIRLIKLARINI-SURDURUYOR
The Mayor recognises the problems of traffic in Alanya and said thie following:
"WE WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS IN TRAFFIC DURING THE FESTIVAL"
Stating that they think there will be a heavy flow of guests to Alanya during the holiday, Mayor Özçelik said, “We will make traffic arrangements for this. In addition to additional traffic controls, some streets will be closed to traffic if necessary to avoid gridlock. In the meantime, we ask our guests who come on holiday to travel by public transportation, not by car, during their holidays, especially when visiting the city. The weather is hot, but we recommend that people use public transportation instead of going to a place that takes 10 minutes to get there in an hour. During the holiday, our security forces will work together with our police teams to maintain order in the city. The District Governor has high sensitivity on this issue. As the entire municipality staff, we will do our best to avoid having a difficult and problematic holiday. "Our police teams asked us to voluntarily work extra on this issue," he said.
https://www.antalyakorfez.com/alanya-kurban-bayramina-hazir
A REMINDER
All pharmacies will be closed from and including the 15th and will reopen on the 20th. Government offices, banks etc will be closed from Monday 17th until Thursday 20th. It's possible some supermarkets may also be closed or on half day on Sunday 16th.
As always i will issue each day the list of Pharmacies open for emergencies.
Enjoy the festivities and this wonderful cultural experience. 🥰
