Eid ul Azha, ‘Bakra Eid’, ‘Bari Eid’, ‘Baghair Eidi wali Eid’… there are so many names for this special occasion!
I am constantly reminded of Bakra Eid on the bumpy road that leads to my office, which is a mini bakra mandi these days. Seeing this bakra mandi brings back so many childhood memories. I feel as though there are some things we go through each year when it comes to Eid ul Azha. I’ve made a list — see if you can relate:
1. Getting attached to the sacrificial animal
“What animal did you get?”
“Bakra abhi le lo, warna buhat mushkil hogi”
“We got it for cheap”
“This is going to be my daughter’s first bakra — she has started earning, you know”
“Aap Eid pe Islamabad hongay ya kahin ja k qurbani kareingay?”
“Qasai kahan se aye ga??”
“Hum hissa dalain gay!”
These exchanges keep on happening till a week before Bakra Eid. Then the animal final comes to your house and everyone gets so attached to it as if it’s yours forever. It becomes the kind of pet you Instagram frequently.
2. Separation anxiety
Things got real kiddos! It hits you that the same bakra is going to be in your plate. I probably shouldn’t scare away my audience by saying this, but euphemistically, you realize that it’s going to go. “Allah ko pyara hojana hai in a few days,” you think to yourself, and feel like an overly attached girlfriend(it’s a meme character! Stop judging me -_-)
3. The qurbani! (sacrifice, a.k.a. “Bye, bye bakra”)
There are two kinds of Pakistanis
- Gory: Who enjoy the bloodshed so much they stand around the qurbani site.
- Can’t even: Those of us who cannot fathom even a drop of blood and can’t deal with the first kind.
Oh wait, I just explained mutton lovers and not-so mutton lovers! My point is that if you’re a Pakistani, you either hate seeing the poor animal being ‘halaaled’ or you don’t. PS: I love it *creepy smile*
4. Sorting the meat
This part. If you want to know how miserable chefs feel inside an amazing restaurant, this Eid should serve as a tutorial. There’s panic, mismanagement, bad odor, lack of space, and basically everything goes haywire in the kitchen on Eid Day. That’s one reason I try to wake up late on Eid.
*feeling self absorbed*
*munches on another oatmeal cookie*
5. The rotating guests
Oh, you thought you’re done with everything? Ha! Eid Day is like an open house (which I love, btw). But on this day, everyone keeps coming and going (without giving you Eidi to boot. Pfft.) It’s more fun when you go to someone else’s house (because you’re not the host, obviously!). This keeps on happening till your mom gives up and screams at every little thing happening!
6. No Eidi?!
Haww! Ye kya badtameezi hai aakhir?! I haven’t understood the concept of not giving Eidi on Bakra Eid. If I had a dollar for every time they said, ‘Oho beta, bakray pe paisay lag jatay hain’. And that’s not even a good reply since in Ramazan we end up spending so much on iftaris and food in general! Being the ‘chota’ (little one) of the house doesn’t always work out, especially on Eid.
Let me know what other relatable things you come across every year. On a serious note, let’s try and share our blessings with the less fortunate this year. Have a Happy Eid!
