Month: July 2021

By Devashish

The holy festival of Eid al-Adha, also known as the ‘festival of sacrifice’ or Greater Eid, is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic or lunar calendar.

Also known as Eid Qurban or Qurban Bayarami, it marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. This year, the crescent moon for the Zul Hijjah was sighted on July 11, as per Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. This means that Bakrid will be celebrated on July 21 in India. However, in Saudi Arabia, it will be celebrated a day earlier on July 20, 2021.

Eid al-Adha is the second Islamic festival of the year and follows Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. The date changes every year, as it’s based on the Islamic lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Western 365-day Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice everything for God.

The same story appears in the Bible and is familiar to Jews and Christians. One key difference is that Muslims believe the son was Ishmael rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament. In Islam, Ishmael is regarded as a prophet and an ancestor of Muhammad.

According to the Quran, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to make something else as a ‘great sacrifice’. In the Old Testament, it is a ram that is sacrificed instead of the son. To mark this occasion, Muslims re-enact Ibrahim’s obedience with the symbolic sacrifice of a lamb, goat, cow, camel, or another animal that is then divided into threes to be shared equally among family, friends and the needy.

Eid is an occasion of joy and peace, where people celebrate with their families, let go of past grudges and make meaningful connections with one another.

Around the world, Eid traditions and festivities vary and many countries have unique cultural approaches to this important festival.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The occasion falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month, Dhul Hijjah, which unlike Eid-ul-Fitr is not based on sighting the moon. The UAE government annually grants a public holiday of at least three days, the most important one being the day before Eid al-Adha, called ‘Day of Arafat’.

The day begins with the Eid prayer on the grounds of Eidgah, and people congratulate each other with hugs and by saying ‘Eid Mubarak’.

Following that the three-day feast begins, with food and ‘Eidi’ gifts galore. Children dress up in their best clothes and offer Eid biscuits around the neighbourhood. People celebrate by decorating their homes with Eid banners and by carrying on the tradition of gifting ‘Eidi’ to the younger family members. This is followed by an enormous breakfast including delicacies such as ‘Doodh Khurmo, also known as Sheer Khurmo.

Turkey

On the first day of the Sacrifice Feast in Turkey, men from each family traditionally go to the mosque for special morning prayer. In some parts of the nation, the sacrificed goat is henna-painted and adorned with ribbons. In recent years, some Turkish people have started making donations to charity organizations instead of sacrificing animals.

People usually wear their best clothes during the Sacrifice Feast. They welcome guests to their homes or visit relatives and friends during the holiday. Young people greet their older relatives and neighbors by kissing their hands as a sign of respect. Some people in Turkey even use the holiday period to go on a vacation.

Egypt

Known as ‘Eid-el-Kibr’ in Egypt, the occasion is endowed with a greater significance than the festival of Eid ul-Fitr. The day begins largely traditional, with prayers and a sermon followed by a large family gathering. People meet with their friends and loved ones, wishing one another ‘kol sana wa inta tayeb’, which translates to ‘I hope every year finds you well’.

In order to honour Prophet Ibrahim, ‘Qurbani’ meat is donated with great generosity and those who are wealthy along with many charitable organisations will give meat and other foodstuffs to families who are hungry. The entire country including the poor and needy look forward to this time when they can receive nutritious meat.

Iran

Iranian Muslims dress formally for Eid prayers, known as Namaz Eid, which are held in mosques and in open areas around the country. Readings from religious texts are also broadcasted. In Iran, it is also known as the ‘salty Eid’ for food, because a larger variety of its dishes are savoury and formed of beef or mutton, depending on what animal has been slaughtered.

The meat is used to make various kebabs and haleem, a stew made of wheat or barley and meat. Alongside the meat dishes, Iranians eat baghali, rice with fava, broad beans and dill.

India

Eid al-Adha is called Id-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent, because of the tradition of sacrificing a goat or ‘bakri’. It is a festival that is celebrated with traditional fervor and gaiety in India.

Many Muslims wear new clothes and attend an open-air prayer meeting during Id-ul-Zuha. They may sacrifice a sheep or goat and share the meat with family members, neighbors and the poor. Many Muslims feel that they have a duty to ensure that all Muslims can enjoy a meat-based meal during this holiday.

Pakistan

The festival is celebrated with a 4-day religious holiday, rather than the 3-day celebration common in most other countries. The occasion begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon and all shops are closed cause people spend the day in prayer and performing the Qurbani sacrifice.

The meat from animal sacrifices is then distributed among friends, relatives, and the poor. As in other countries, families will come together to share food and exchange gifts

Bangladesh

The holy festival is known as ‘Kurbanir Eid’ or ‘Bakri Eid’ in Bangladesh and is observed as both a religious occasion and a festal one. Nearly a month before the festival begins, preparations start with sweet shops, gift stores and cloth vendors stocking their shelves with the goods enjoyed by families across the country.

In Bangladesh, cows, goats and buffalos are commonly chosen and the slaughter begins directly after the namaz (prayer ceremony) on the first day, continuing for the next two to three days.

Canada

The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) holds Eid festivals to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which offer celebrations including a carnival of fun rides, shows, sports tournaments and various international cuisines. Thousands of people, including key leaders, often attend these events and some politicians publicly announce their best wishes to those celebrating the festival, which can last for up to a few days.

Though it’s not a nationwide public holiday in Canada, some Islamic organizations may close or offer a reduced level of service and there may be some local traffic congestion around mosques and venues where Eid al-Adha celebrations are held.

United States of America (USA)

Many Muslims in the United States celebrate Eid al-Adha with prayers and social gatherings. The Eid al-Adha services attract thousands of Muslims in various places such as Chicago (Illinois) and Orlando (Florida). Many Muslims of different heritages, including Pakistan, as well as Eastern European and African countries, wear traditional clothes and share their national dishes.

It is a time for prayer, sharing meals, handing out gifts, and wishing one another well. While some Muslims seek out a farm where they can carry out the sacrifice, many also send money to their native lands to help fund a sacrifice. The celebration lasts for up to three days and is a time to seek mercy from God.

United Kingdom (UK)

On Eid al-Adha, Muslims in the UK usually start the day by performing ghusl, a full-body purification ritual. They then dress in their finest outfits and attend a prayer service at an outdoor prayer ground or the local mosque. Afterward, it is customary for them to embrace and wish each other, give gifts to children, and visit friends and relatives.

The occasion has a celebratory character, and the day may be rounded off by visiting funfairs or festivals held for the occasion in some British cities. Initiatives to improve the quality of life or opportunities in Muslim communities around the United Kingdom might be launched on Eid ul-Adha. Some mosques also hold study days or lectures on aspects of Islam and Islamic history.

Most Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha in the same traditional sense but of course, cultural celebrations and practices for the occasion differ from East to West and from one country to another. With approximately two billion Muslims across the globe, there are several things that everyone will do on Eid.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, let us hope we can leave behind these challenging times together for a period of happiness, compassion, and peace. Eid Mubarak! (ANI)

After taking a break during the second wave of Covid-19, Bollywood actor Kajol Devgan is back on the sets for shooting and on Monday shared her first-day picture from the location.

The ‘My Name Is Khan’ actor took to her Instagram handle and posted a picture from her vanity van while getting ready for the shoot.
Revealing her excitement of getting back to work, in the caption, Kajol wrote, “The feel of a set after so long is something else … it feels like a party!” The post garnered more than a lakh likes from fans.

While Kajol’s career graph is on a slow pace currently, she ruled the 90s and 2000s era with back-to-back hits. The last film in which Kajol was seen was the Netflix released movie ‘Tribhanga – Tedhi Medhi Crazy’. The film was released on OTT on January 15, 2021, and got great reviews.

Kajol is the daughter of actor Tanuja and director Shomu Mukherjee. She made her debut in the film ‘Bekhudi’. Her most popular films include ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, and several others. (ANI)

The members of the Shia and Hazara community have concerns with the recent developments in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-torn nation.

Speaking at a virtual summit titled “Developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and impact on Shias”, Dr Akram GIzabi, Chairman of World Hazara Council blames Pakistan military for backing the Taliban and fueling the insurgency in Afghanistan.
He said, “Amir Abdur Rahman (Emir of Afghanistan) started the Holy war against Hazaras, abducted women and sold them as slaves, expelled Hazara from Kandahar and Zabul pushed them to barren lands in Central Afghanistan. When the Taliban came to power with help of ISI, Hazara suffered the most. Twenty thousand Hazaras were killed in Mazar-i- Sharif alone”.

“Iran is not helping Hazaras. Iran’s way of thinking is racial but their rhetoric is Shia-based. In Afghanistan, they helped even those Sunnis who are racially linked to Persians or Aryans. But they use Hazaras to fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq and threaten to deport Iran-based Hazaras if they refuse to fight. Now, Afghan and Pakistani Hazaras are targeted because of those Hazaras who fought for Iran”.

Dr Akram GIzabi is disturbed by the changing scenario in Afghanistan as he fears the Taliban will intensify targeting the Hazara Shias with the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces.

He said, “In Afghanistan, Hazaras are shutting down businesses and schools. Hazara schools and maternity homes were targeted in western Kabul killing hundreds including pregnant women. Afghans in the north have picked up arms to fight the Taliban. As Afghan army is regaining ground, the Taliban want to cease fire and release more prisoners as a condition to end the fight. Afghan government should not release more Taliban as this will only strengthen them and encourage them to resume fight”.

Senge H. Sering, Director of Institute of Gilgit Baltistan Studies said, “Today “Ye jo dehshatgardi hai; is ke peechay vardi hai” means army is promoting terrorism, has become the most common slogan among Shias, Baloch, Sindhis, Pashtun and the people of Gilgit Baltistan.

“This shows that people have a basic understanding of the driving forces behind the large-scale killings of civilians’ especially racial and religious minorities opposing Pakistan’s strategic depth paradigm. In Pakistan, the relationship between the military and the militants is supreme and it comes at the cost of wellbeing and security of people like Shias. This means that the law enforcers and security personnel will not come to the rescue of Shias, Baloch or Hazaras when militants attack to displace or eliminate them”.

“Like in the past, recent political developments in Afghanistan where the Pakistan army is found helping Taliban gain new grounds will increase militant activity within Pakistan and consequential threats for Shias and other religious minorities. Places like Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Parachinar and Quetta will suffer the most as Taliban gain strength in adjoining valleys in the coming days”, said Sering, a Shia political activist from Gilgit Baltistan.

Mustafa Akhwand, Director of Shia Rights Watch said, “Madrassa culture needs more scrutiny as this enforces `Jihadi’ ranks. Madrassas need to shut down if they are helping the insurgency. This will help reduce sectarian violence”.

He added, “Taliban claim to be reformed but they are run by ideology and cannot change. They are more brutal than before and follow old ways of torture. They are violating all articles of the UN Convention of Fundamental rights”.

Talking about the role of the USA after completing withdrawal from Afghanistan, the panellists said more regional autonomy on the model of autonomous Kurdistan is needed to counter the Taliban and Pakistan.

They also concluded that there should be no fly zone over Afghanistan to stop Pakistan from using the Air Force to help the Taliban.

“This is existential war, not religious war and Shias and Sunnis should unite to counter Taliban – same like how Iraqis were able to unite to counter ISIS”, said the panelists in their concluding remarks. (ANI)

The names of over 40 Indian journalists appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware, according to a report published in The Wire.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology refuted the reports of surveillance of journalists.

“The allegations regarding government surveillance on specific people has no concrete basis or truth associated with it whatsoever. In the past, similar claims were made regarding the use of Pegasus on WhatsApp by the Indian State. Those reports also had no factual basis and were categorically denied by all parties, including WhatsApp in the Indian Supreme Court,” the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology said in its response.

“This news report, thus, also appears to be a similar fishing expedition, based on conjectures and exaggerations to malign the Indian democracy and its institutions,” the Ministry added.

The spyware ‘Pegasus’ is developed by Israel-based NSO Group. The company specialises in hacking devices and caters to various governments of the world for spying purposes.

Forensic tests have also confirmed that phones of some of these journalists were successfully infected with the Pegasus malware, the report said.

According to the report, the journalists who were targeted work for some news organisations in the country including Hindustan Times, The Hindu, India Today, Indian Express and Network18. Many of them cover matters related to Defence, Home Ministry, Election Commission and Kashmir among others.

The Wire said phones of its founder-editors Siddharth Varadarajan and MK Venu were also targeted with Pegasus spyware.

Some of the prominent journalists whose names are mentioned in the leaked list include Shishir Gupta, Prashant Jha, Rahul Singh, Sandeep Unnithan, Manoj Gupta, Vijaita Singh and J Gopikrishnan, the report said.

According to The Wire, the leaked list was first accessed by France-based Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International and later shared with The Wire and 15 other news organisations worldwide as part of a collaborative investigation named the ‘Pegasus Project’.

Notably, the presence of a phone number in the list alone does not reveal whether a device was infected with Pegasus or subject to an attempted hack. But the Pegasus Project suggests potential targets for surveillance attempts.

Independent digital forensic analysis conducted on 10 Indian phones whose numbers were present in the data showed signs of either an attempted or successful Pegasus hack, reported The Wire.

In November 2019, messaging app WhatsApp had revealed that journalists and activists in India have been the target of surveillance by operators using the Israeli spyware, Pegasus.

The then Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had informed the Parliament that Pegasus spyware was developed by an Israel-based company NSO Group in an attempt to reach mobile phones of 1,400 users globally including 121 users from India.

The spyware first made global headlines in 2016 when an Arab activist reported a mysterious message on his phone. (ANI)

As the Monsoon session begins tomorrow, the Congress MPs will move an adjournment motion in both houses of the Parliament on farmers’ issue, said party leader Manish Tewari on Sunday.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Manish Tewari said, “We had detailed discussions on ongoing farmers’ protest and the allocation of vaccines in Punjab. We will be presenting ‘Kaam Roko Prastav’ in the House. We have also discussed the strategy for the upcoming Parliament session keeping Punjab issues in mind.”
Amid the ongoing tussle in Punjab Congress, all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of Congress from the state met at the party MP Pratap Singh Bajwa’s residence in Delhi on Sunday to discuss issues related to the state unit.

Congress MPs Manish Tewari, Jasbir Gill, Shamsher Singh Dullo, Mohd Siddiqui, Praneet Kaur, Santokh Chaudhary, Ravneet Singh Bittu and others attended the meeting at Bajwa’s residence.

However, Congress MPs categorically denied discussing the Captain-Sidhu rift, saying they formulated strategies to corner the government in the Monsoon session.

Pratap Singh Bajwa said the farmers’ protest and issues related to Punjab were discussed in the meeting.

Asked about Navjot Singh Sidhu, Bajwa said, “In democratic parties, differences are there. We are loyal to Congress. We will follow whatever party high-command decides. We have accepted persons from any caste or religion, young or old, tall or short. We accepted it earlier, will do it now as well. There is no challenge. Navjot Singh Sidhu had come for a courtesy meet after he met Sonia Gandhi. I did not give him any directions. At the MPs meet, we discussed farm issues and price rise.”

On Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, he said, “My differences with Captain are not personal but on policies, on promises not met by the State Government. We had detailed discussions on them. He has asked for around 12-14 weeks’ time to fulfil them as there are seven months to the elections.”

Congress MP from Punjab Jasbir Gill said, “There was no talk of Navjot Singh Sidhu. We discussed how the farmers’ issue could be raised in Parliament. We also talked about high inflation and Punjab’s taxes that are not released by the Centre.”

The meeting came amid the heightened political buzz about possible organisational changes in the Punjab Congress. While Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to head the Punjab unit of the party, 4 working presidents will be appointed with him, the sources said.

“We have invited all Congress MPs from Punjab for a meeting to devise a strategy on farmers’ issue and to discuss some important issues related to the Punjab Congress,” Bajwa had told ANI before the meeting.

Incidentally, the meeting also comes a day after Bajwa, along with Punjab Speaker Rana KP Singh and state Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi met Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh at his residence.

On Friday, sources had said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wrote to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi expressing apprehensions about the possible appointment of party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu as PCC chief.

A power tussle in Punjab Congress has been going on for almost a month where Sidhu openly rebelled against the state government by criticising the electricity crisis in the state. Congress leadership has been making efforts to find a solution to the rift ahead of assembly polls earlier next year. (ANI)

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has been appointed as president of the party’s Punjab unit ahead of Assembly elections due next year.

Sidhu’s appointment came after months of infighting in the state unit as the former cricket started had openly rebelled against Captain Amarinder Singh’s government over several issues.
Besides Sidhu, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has also appointed Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra as Working Presidents of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

“Congress President has appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect. Congress President has also appointed Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra as Working Presidents of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee,” according to a statement issued by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.

The decision came after rounds of meetings between Congress high command with Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sindhu.

Amarinder Singh on Friday wrote to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi expressing apprehensions about the possible appointment of party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, sources had said.

Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Harish Rawat met Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in Mohali on July 17. Later he said that Amarinder Singh has assured him that he will honour any decision taken by the party high command.

However, Rawat reiterated that Amarinder Singh will remain the chief ministerial face of the party for the upcoming Assembly elections since his governance has earned praise from the people of the state and also because “Punjabis don’t want to experiment with their political leadership.”

Rawat had met Sonia Gandhi on Friday and submitted his report regarding proposed changes in the Punjab Congress. Sidhu was also present during the meeting. Amarinder Singh had also met Sonia Gandhi last week. (ANI)

Indian Army organized “A Day in Army Camp” for the youth and children of Balakote, Sandote and Behrote at Peer Baba of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

The activities were aimed at familiarising the participants with the troops and giving them an insight into the Indian Army’s functioning, traditions and life in general.

At the same time, the aim of the camp is to focus on bridging the gap and erasing inhibitions amongst the general public about the image of the armed forces.

The participants were acquainted with the adventure, sports and other routine activities constituting a way of life in the Indian Army.

“The excitement and enthusiasm radiated by the children during the entire schedule were distinctly visible. Sports activities were organised to encourage the youth to direct their bubbling energies in a positive direction. They were affianced to display a small weapon for children in order to motivate them to join the Indian Army,” Lieutenant colonel Devender Anand, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Defence said.

The Indian Army addressed the participants and also organized an informal interaction session.

“An educational talk was also given to the children on how to join defence forces as an officer and other ranks through permanent commission, short service commission (women) and recruitment rallies organised all over the nation,” Anand added.

The Sarpanch and the locals of Peer Baba and nearby areas expressed their gratitude towards the Indian Army for organising the special event.

This endeavour by the army is a minuscule but genuine effort to sculpt a better future for the present generation, and to help them become an active element of the nation’s mainstream. (ANI)

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call back the ambassador from Islamabad along with all senior diplomats in view of the abduction of an ambassador’s daughter, said Afghan first Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Sunday.

“President Ashraf Ghani instructs its Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call back ambassador from Islamabad along with all senior diplomats in view of abduction of an ambassador’s daughter. Our national psyche has been tortured,” Amrullah Saleh tweeted.
This comes after Silsila Alikhil, the daughter of Afghan envoy Najibullah Alikhil, was abducted in Pakistan for several hours on Friday, July 16, and was severely tortured by unknown individuals on her way home.

The caucus noted that the incident took place amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Rasheed Ahmed on Sunday said that the kidnapping case of the Afghanistan ambassador’s daughter is expected to be solved within 72 hours, reported The Express Tribune.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed Rasheed to ensure that the culprits behind the incident involving the ambassador’s daughter are arrested within 48 hours.

Najibullah Alikhil, Afghan ambassador to Pakistan decried being “forced” to share a picture of his daughter late Saturday night after another woman’s picture was incorrectly posted to social media after the news of her abduction broke.

In a tweet, the ambassador apologised for sharing his daughter’s, Selsela Alikhil, picture but added that he felt compelled to share it after some other woman’s picture was posted incorrectly on social media.

Moreover, Najibullah Alikhil gave an update about her daughter’s condition and expressed profound gratitude for the messages of sympathy.

“Yesterday my daughter was kidnapped from Islamabad and beaten heavily, but by Allah blessing escaped. She feels better now. This inhuman attack has been following by the concerned authorities of both countries. I express my profound gratitude for the messages of sympathy,” he tweeted. (ANI)

The national capital reported zero deaths and 51 new COVID-19 positive cases, as per the Delhi Health Department on Sunday.

The last time zero deaths due to COVID-19 was recorded on March 2.
In the last 24 hours, the positivity rate also stands at 0.07 percent, and the cumulative positivity rate stand at 6.30 percent.

The total cases in the capital touched 14,35,529 including 592 active cases.

The death toll remained at 25,027 and the overall fatality rate stands at 1.74 percent.

With 80 fresh recoveries in the last 24 hours, the cumulative numbers reached 14,09,910.

As many as 71,546 individuals were tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 2,27,96,703 tests so far.

As a part of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive, the national capital inoculated 71,786 in the last 24 hours. With this, the Cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far are at 93,30,461.

Previously, on February 10, February 13 and March 2 this year, Delhi reported zero COVID-19 deaths. Also, on July 12, Delhi recorded 45 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest this year in the city.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) today cancelled Kanwar Yatra in the national capital. (ANI)