06 December 2008, 23:11
Muslims of Kabardino-Balkaria will mark Kurban-Bairam
The Muslims of Kabardino-Balkaria are getting prepared for their feast - Kurban-Bairam, which starts on December 8 and will last for three days. The KBR president has decreed to make this day a holiday.
"Kurban-Bairam is an important feast for Muslims. This feast of sacrifice starts on the 10th day of Zu-al-khidja, after the completion of the 30-day long fasting of Ramadan, and lasts three or four days", told Andzhela Amshulova, employee of the Kabardino-Balkaria Board on Spiritual Issues, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to her, the Muslims of Kabardino-Balkaria constitute 60-65% of the population.
In conformance with the Islam canons, cattle or small animals are sacrificed during Kurban-Bairam, and the meat is offered to poor people, relatives and neighbors. Muslims are going to pray in the main mosque of Nalchik, hand out sadaka (alms) and later visit their relatives and friends.
The day of sacrifice starts early in the morning. At dawn, the Muslims go to mosque for the morning prayer, but before this one must carefully wash oneself and put on clean clothes. After the morning prayer the Muslims return home. Many of them go to the cemetery to pray for their dead.
During Kurban-Bairam, each Muslim must eat a meat dish. Many Muslims fatten an animal specially for the feast. The animal prepared for the sacrifice is sometimes decorated with bows, necklaces and bells. Before slaughtering, the animal is put on the ground with its head towards Mecca.
The home of each Muslim during Kurban-Bairam is so hospitable and generous that no visitor may leave the place without eating a festive dish. During Kurban-Bairam and three or four subsequent days, people visit friends and relatives, give them various presents.
Author: Luiza Orazayeva, CK correspondent
