In Pictures

In Pictures: Eid al-Adha around the world

Millions of Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Adha festival, which marks the last day of the Hajj pilgrimage.

A Palestinian girl dressed up as she attends prayers to mark the first day of Eid al-Adha, in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. During the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, Muslims slaughter sheep o — A Palestinian girl attends prayers to mark the first day of Eid al-Adha in Gaza City. [Khalil Hamra/AP Photo]

Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Adha religious holiday, which, in Arabic, means the “festival of the sacrifice” and marks the end of Hajj, the five-day pilgrimage Muslims undertake to cleanse the soul of sins and instil a sense of equality and brotherhood among them.

Eid al-Adha commemorates the story of the Muslim Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail. The belief holds that God stayed his hand, sparing the boy, and placing a ram in his place.

Although the majority of Muslims will celebrate the four-day holiday starting Sunday, for many, including those living in India and Pakistan, Eid al-Adha will not begin until Monday.

The day is marked with the sacrifice of an animal, usually a goat, sheep or cow, and the distribution of the meat among neighbours, family members, and the poor.

Thai Muslims pray before the tomb of their relatives at a cemetery during the Eid al-Adha festival in Thailand''s southern province of Narathiwat on August 11, 2019. - Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Ad — Thai Muslims pray at the tomb of their relatives during the Eid al-Adha festival in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat. [Madaree Tohlala/AFP]

ndian paramilitary soldiers guard as a Kashmiri livestock seller crosses a street ahead of Eid al Adha during a security lock down in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmiri, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. Aut — Indian paramilitary soldiers on patrol as a Kashmiri livestock seller crosses the street ahead of Eid al-Adha in Srinagar. [Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo]

Young Kyrgyz Muslims pray on the first day of the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) in central Bishkek on August 11, 2019. - Muslims across the world are celebrating the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, — Young Kyrgyz Muslims pray on the first day of the Eid al-Adha in central Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. [Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP]

Muslims attend an Eid al-Adha mass prayer, marking the end of the haj pilgrimage near Moscow''s grand mosque in Russia August 11, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov — Muslims attend mass Eid prayer near Moscow's grand mosque. [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]

A clown entertains Palestinians on the first day of Eid al-Adha near the Dome of Rock mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam''s third most holy site, in the Old City of Jerusalem on august 11, 20 — Palestinians celebrate the first day of Eid al-Adha near the Dome of Rock mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third-holiest site, in the Old City of Jerusalem. [Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]

Yemeni men exchange wishes at a cemetary on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday in Yemen''s capital Sanaa on August 11, 2019, as Muslims across the world celebrated the first day of the Feast of S — Yemeni men exchange wishes at a cemetery on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday in capital Sanaa. [Mohammed Huwais/AFP]

Muslim pilgrims pray after they cast stones at a pillar symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, in Mina near — Muslim pilgrims pray after they cast stones at a pillar symbolising the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called 'Jamarat', the last rite of the annual Hajj, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. [Amr Nabil/AP Photo]

Afghan children ride on swings during the first day of the Muslim holiday of the Eid al-Adha, in Kabul, Afghanistan August 11, 2019.REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail — Afghan children celebrate the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Kabul. [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]

Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers at a mosque in Shanghai, China August 11, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song — Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers at a mosque in Shanghai, China. [Aly Song/Reuters]

An aerial picture of Indonesian Muslims offering Eid al-Adha prayers at Baiturrahmah mosque in Padang, West Sumatra province, Indonesia, August 11, 2019 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Fot — Indonesian Muslims offering Eid al-Adha prayers at Baiturrahmah mosque in Padang, West Sumatra province. [Antara Foto/Iggoy el Fitra via Reuters]

Filipino Muslims gather to celebrate Eid al-Adha at the Luneta Park in Manila on August 11, 2019. - Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice), the second of two Islamic holidays cel — Filipino Muslims gather to celebrate Eid al-Adha at the Luneta Park in Manila. [Noel Celis/AFP]

Iraqi Sunni Muslims pray during the festival of Eid al-Adha at Um Al-Tabool mosque in central Baghdad, Iraq, 11 August 2019. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year — Iraqis pray during the festival of Eid al-Adha at Um Al-Tabool mosque in central Baghdad. [Murtaja Lateef/EPA]

This aerial photo taken on August 11, 2019, shows Albanian Muslims praying at Skenderbej square in Tirana during the Eid al-Adha Festival. - Muslims across the world are celebrating the annual festiva — Albanian Muslims praying at Skenderbej Square in Tirana during the Eid al-Adha festival. [Gent Shullaku/AFP]