Tomorrow, most Mauritians of Muslim faith will sacrifice an animal and share out the meat. Eid-Ul-Adha – also called Abraham’s sacrifice – will indeed be celebrated with much fervour. Even though the legend says that a lamb was immolated, most people in Mauritius sacrifice an ox. Abraham is said to have had a dream where God asked him to kill his only son, as a proof of his faith. Although he first felt he had his back to the wall, he finally thought the message was from Heaven and should be fulfilled.

But this was just a test from God; as he was putting a knife under his son’s neck, he realised the knife was not sharp anymore. At the same time, he saw a lamb coming down from the sky and realised that God had only wanted to test his faith.

Since then, all Muslims around the world celebrate this special day by sacrificing an animal on the tenth day of the Islamic calendar. Moreover, it occurs on the day after the most important day of the Hadj pilgrimage. On the ninth day, all the pilgrims to Mecca go together on the plain of Arafat to pray. It is a very special moment when all the pilgrims are united and is the climax of the Hadj pilgrimage.

And the following day is one that celebrates happiness and the sharing spirit. As soon as the ox or any other animal is killed, the family divides it into three portions. One for the poor, another for the family itself and the third for relatives, friends and neighbours. This religious festival celebrates the family and sharing spirit…