HARI RAYA HAJI 2010

Eid al-Adha: The Festival of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha is one of two Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate, the origin of which comes from the Quran. Also known as Hari Raya Haji, Hari Raya Kurban, or the Festival of Sacrifice, the Eid al-Adha is one of the several religious festivals celebrated by Muslims all over the world. Here, the Muslim community commemorates God’s forgiveness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, from his promise to sacrifice his own son Ishmael as commanded by Allah.

When is Hari Raya Haji 2010/ Eid al-Adha 2010?

The festival annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic Calendar. It runs for two to three days, even more, depending on the country celebrating it. Eid ul-Adha happens the day after pilgrims perform Hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide. The pilgrimage is done approximately seventy days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

The festival is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, and thus in Gregorian calendar the date changes every year. Hari Raya Kurban 2010 is expected to fall on Wednesday, 17 November 2010. However since the festival is determined based on moon-sighting, the exact date of the Hari Raya Haji 2010 will be announced by the Islamic authority closer to the festival.