Kurban Ait

November 16 is a day that is celebrated and remembered by the Muslim world as Kurban Ait [Eid al-Adha in Arabic].This day is considered [when following the lunar Islamic calendar], to be the 10th day of the 12th and very last month. These festivities begin following the ending of the sacred Hajj, or annual pilgrimage to Mecca. This date is exactly 70 days [2 months and 10 days] after the end of Ramadan. It is a commemoration of the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishamel even when a ram was sent by Allah to be killed in his place. The reward for his total obedience to God was the saving of his son. The goat was from that moment forward [in the Muslim tradition] to represent all of the world's sins, which are forgiven once the goat is sacrificed. There are differences in the cast of characters in the story from both Christian and Jewish perspectives, which recognize the book of Genesis version where the son is actually Israel and no substitute sacrifice is offered.

Here in Kazakhstan, there are different levels of celebration from very traditional to the more culturally celebratory sacrificing. Most schools and colleges are closed for the day, people invite their neighbors from morning till evening time. Beginning from 9 am, some families can receive well over 50-60 people just in the afternoon! Then more rounds continue into the night. A holiday like this one reminds people of their connections to each other and the humility of Abraham in his obedience to God. I find that in my experience, most families are not terribly religious but still uphold traditions well. My host Grandfather reads a very beautiful Arabic prayer before and after the meals are served, as a blessing. [He's been to Mecca 3 times, so I think he can safely give a blessing!]

My family last year did offer a goat and shared it with copious guests in the traditional form of besbarmak. I will be going to see them and I'll celebrate this "festival of sacrifice" with lots of mutton, some sweet chak-chak and lots of black tea. I must confess, I do miss being amongst my Kazakhstani family for those holidays, I am looking forward to tomorrow.