The Muslim festival of sacrifice comes during a welcome lull in violence in the South,
King-oua Laohong in Pattani, Photos byTAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
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| Muslim religious leaders give money to children in Ban Prujud in tambon Kuannoree In Pattani’s Khok Pho district during the Eid al-Adha festival or the festival of sacrifice. |
Children sneak a look outside as their parents pray inalocal mosque. |
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| Family and relatives from near and far get stuck into a magnificent spread. |
A cow is slaughtered as part of the festival of sacrifice. |
Muslims flocked to celebrate the much-awaited Islamic Eid al-Adha festival, or festival of sacrifice, this year, which took place against a welcome lull in the southern violence.
Also known as the Hari Raya Haji festival, it is held to celebrate the conclusion of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, and this year fell on Dec 8.
According to Islamic teachings, only two Muslim feasts are permitted. They are Eid al-Adha which marks the end of the pilgrimage and Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The festival is marked by family meetings, the slaughter of animals, and donations to charities and the poor.
The animal sacrifice recognises the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God as an act of obedience and submission, although he was later told to spare the boy and kill a ram instead.
Ever since, Muslims who can afford to do so are asked to slaughter an animal such as a sheep, camel or goat.
In Thailand, the festival is equivalent to New Year's Day for Muslims.
In Pattani's Khok Pho district, Muslims in Ban Prujud in tambon Kuannoree prepared special meals and assorted sweets for relatives and friends who came from afar.
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| A soldier who guards the community wears civilian clothes as he hands sweets to children. |
Volleyball keeps the kids busy as their parents prepare the sacrifice. |
Lt Udom Khamhom of the 15th Infantry Division looks after the children as their parents pray. |
After sunrise, hundreds of worshippers gathered at local mosques to take part in a special prayer marking the start of the event.
Imam or religious leaders gave money to children who lined up outside the mosque while soldiers who patrolled the village were asked to hand sweets to the children.
Mareeyah, a teacher at a tadeeka religious school in Prujud village, said that after the prayers, an animal - preferably a camel - is slaughtered.
Meat is divided into seven portions and given to poor people in the neighbourhood.
Instead of a camel, a cow, goat or ram can be killed instead.
Neighbours can make contributions to buy the animal for slaughter. The sacrificial animal must be strong and healthy and without disabilities.
She said that at the height of the southern violence, which has abated this year, festivities in the village and other areas were subdued and the spirits of Muslims living there dampened.
Until recently, the southern unrest also kept many Thais working abroad, particularly in Malaysia, from returning to visit their families during the festival.
Initially, residents were wary of soldiers patrolling the village to keep the peace.
"Previously, we did not invite them to join us in feasting during the festival.
"But now, soldiers here and in other areas are always welcome," Ms Mareeyah said.
Lt Udom Khamhom, attached to the 15th Infantry Division, said: "I have been here for two years. I can only pick up a few words of Malay language. People here are friendly."
Apart from the feast to mark the occasion, family members and friends also send cards and presents to wish each other well.
Kodeeyo Jeyah, a villager at Ban Prujud, said people hold hands in a gesture of peace and ask for forgiveness from each other for any offences that might have been done during the past year.
"This is an opportunity for people who have bad feelings against each other to forgive and forget," she said.
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