A joyous day for Muslims as prayers held and sacrifices made

Dubai: It was a joyful day for Muslims who celebrated Eid Al Adha, the feast of sacrifice, with morning prayers and generally enjoying the long weekend.

Eid prayers were held in the various emirates an hour after sunrise. After the short prayers people greeted each other and got ready to sacrifice the animals they had purchased a day earlier.

Sheep farmers were seen in various areas selling the animals from their trucks. Some had tied up the animals on pavements in areas such as Karama.

Most people shared the meat after the sacrifice with their friends and relatives.

Children were seen wearing new clothes for Eid and buying sweets and toys from the 'eidih' money given by their parents.

Happy faces

"We visited our friends and exchanged greetings and had a delicious meal made from the sacrificial meat," said Alam Qhureshi, a Pakistani expatriate.

"I called my wife and children and my parents and wished them Eid Mubarak," said Hussain, an Egyptian.

"I was invited for the sacrificial feast by my brother-in-law who lives in Sharjah," said Ali, an Egyptian engineer.

By late afternoon public parks were full of people enjoying the wonderful weather. In Sharjah, people flocked to the Qanat Al Qasba to spend time outdoors and give their children rides on the gondola.

"My kids love the time here. It is really wonderful to see so many happy faces," said Lubna, a Palestinian mother-of-two.