Srinagar, May 20: As most Kashmiris wake to the fragrance of festive dishes and the sound of Eid greetings, the ritual sacrifice of livestock begins, a solemn reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eid ul-Adha, one of the most important Islamic festivals, is known as a time of celebration, sacrifice, and connection with faith and family. For most, it’s a holiday, a break from work, a time to visit relatives, exchange gifts, and prepare elaborate meals. But for a particular group in society namely local butchers, the festival is the busiest time of the year, marked not by rest but by intense labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mushtaq Ahmad, a 44-year-old butcher from Nadihal village of Bandipora has worked every Eid for the past 12 years. “We don\u2019t sleep. We don\u2019t sit. But we still do it because it\u2019s more than just a job. It\u2019s a responsibility,” he said while preparing his equipment at his shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the three days of Eid ul-Adha, thousands of goats, sheep, and cattle are sacrificed across the Kashmir Valley in memory of Prophet Ibrahim\u2019s devotion. However, for the men performing the sacrifices, it is also a marathon of physical endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., I visit up to a dozen homes each day. That\u2019s nearly 20 animals over three days. There\u2019s little time for food, let alone rest,” Mushtaq said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While others gather for tea, spend time with children, or host guests, these butchers move from one household to another, fulfilling religious duties on behalf of others. Their tools are packed in cloth, their mobile phones ring constantly with requests, and they often travel long distances to meet the growing demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gh Mohammad Waza, 48, travels every year from Sumbal sub Division to Bandipora to meet his regular clients. \u201cI\u2019ve done this for years now. People trust me to carry out the qurbani properly. It\u2019s tiring, but I take pride in the work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the physical challenges, many butchers say that Eid ul-Adha is not just about the volume of work, but the meaning behind it. They see themselves as enablers of faith, helping families perform one of Islam\u2019s most significant rituals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI make niyyah before each sacrifice,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cThis is not ordinary work. It\u2019s a service to faith, and that\u2019s what motivates me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Butchers are deeply aware of the expectations placed on them. Each animal must be handled with care, each cut performed according to Islamic guidelines. Mistakes are rare and not tolerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have elders watching, children standing nearby, and people praying while you work. That pressure keeps you alert,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cNo matter how tired we are, we try to ensure every qurbani is done properly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While families enjoy feasts and reunions, butchers live a very different version of Eid. Meals are often skipped or eaten in haste between visits. New clothes are rarely worn; there\u2019s no time to join family gatherings. “By the time I finish my last sacrifice for the day, it\u2019s almost 8 PM. Everyone else is resting or sharing meals. That\u2019s when I eat,” said Mohammad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their families, too, adjust to this unique routine. Children grow up seeing their fathers leave early and return late during Eid. Wives pack extra clothes, and wait patiently for the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy family understands,\u201d said Mushtaq \u201cThey know this is part of who I am, and what this festival means for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Butchers often feel a strong connection to the muslim community they serve. They are called not just for their skill, but for their reputation, their care with animals, and their understanding of religious obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of them have no formal training, learning the skill from elders or through experience. They are not part of registered unions or official organizations, but they are known in every neighborhood by name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe grow up learning from elders how to handle animals, how to perform the qurbani properly,\u201d said Mushtaq. \u201cIt\u2019s knowledge passed down like an heirloom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clients often book their preferred butchers weeks in advance. Some butchers even maintain lists, noting down dates, times, and addresses for each visit. \u201cIt becomes a network of trust. If you\u2019ve done well one year, ten more homes will call you the next,\u201d Mushtaq added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The intense pace of work continues for three days straight. Most butchers start before dawn and work well into the night, stopping only briefly for namaz or a quick meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy the second day, your body feels like it\u2019s falling apart. But you still have ten more houses to visit”, said Bilal, another Butcher from Arin village of Bandipora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the final day of Eid concludes, and homes are filled with the aroma of cooked meat and the echoes of laughter, the butchers begin to wrap up. Blades are cleaned, clothes washed, and tools packed for another year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite their exhaustion, most carry a quiet sense of fulfillment. \u201cThis is our Eid,\u201d said Bilal. \u201cIt may not look like others\u2019 but it\u2019s meaningful in its own way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Srinagar, May 20: As most Kashmiris wake to the fragrance of festive dishes and the sound of Eid greetings, the ritual sacrifice of livestock begins, a solemn reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith. Eid ul-Adha, one of the most important Islamic festivals, is known as a time of celebration, sacrifice, and connection with faith and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12,110],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bandipora","category-community","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions\/119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unfoldbandipora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}