01 September 2017, 15:02
Sochi Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha in Hyde Park without sacrifices
In Sochi, 1500 Muslims celebrated the holiday of Eid al-Adha in the local "Hyde Park". The mass prayer in the park was sanctioned by the Mayor's Office.
The Sacrifice Feast of Eid al-Adha is celebrated 70 days after the holiday of Eid al-Fitr and falls on the 10th day of the sacred month of Dhu al-Hijjah. The celebration takes place within three days and marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca.
"Muslims who decided to pray came to the designated place in the 'Hyde Park' by public transport. The 'Hyde Park' is designed to accommodate even such a big number of people like today. There were enough places for everyone," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Vladimir Volkov, the director of the Department on relations with the law enforcement agencies and the public associations of the Sochi Mayor's Office.
The official from the Mayor's Office has added that the scenario of the event was agreed in advance with the applicants of the action. At 7:00 a.m., preparations for the prayer were started, and then the prayer itself lasted until 8:00 a.m. No sacrifices were performed in the eyes of passers-by.
"The tradition takes place in houses, in closed yards. Neighbours professing different religions never filed any complaints against the above tradition. Everything occurs very correctly. When a mass prayer is being held, photography and idle curiosity are not welcome. This is sacrament of religion, and believers have the right for respect of their feelings," Vladimir Volkov explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Svetlana Kravchenko Source: CK correspondent
