City Faith – The Ballad for the Eid Goats, Old Delhi
The gifts of sacrifice.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
They all will die. The goats, as well as the occasional camels and buffaloes.
The Delhi Walla spent a week walking in the Islamic parts of the Walled City, which is preparing to get ready for Eid ul Zuha, or Bakra Eid, in which animals are sacrificed to commemorate the legend of a devout man’s complete surrender to his God.
Every household in certain parts of Old Delhi have at least one goat tied in the courtyard. These creatures are presently the center of attraction. Children kiss them and the elders affectionately feed them with gular grass.
On the morning of Eid, the lungi-clad butchers will visit every home.
Rest in peace
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Animal sacrifices are barbaric, regardless of religion.
Unless one has grown up with this ritual, it would be hard, for a city dweller, to put up with the smell and gore of this thing.