The bombay high court on tuesday (June 3) allowed animal sacrifice (Qurbani) on the occasion of the Urs organized at the dargah located in Vishalgad fort in Kolhapur district of maharashtra, apart from the Bakrid festival. The fort is a protected monument, citing which the authorities had banned the sacrifice of animals and birds in the premises.
Decision on the application of Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah Trust
A vacation bench of Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Firdaus Pooniwala heard a petition of Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah Trust, seeking permission to sacrifice animals (Qurbani). The bench allowed the sacrifice of animals during the festival of Bakrid to be celebrated on june 7 and the four-day Urs (fair) to be held from june 8 to 12 at the dargah located in Vishalgad fort. The court said that this order will not only apply to the Dargah Trust, but also to other devotees.
The meat is distributed among pilgrims and villagers
The Deputy director of the Archaeological Department had banned animal sacrifice in the fort, citing the maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. But the trust argued that the sacrifice is an 'old practice', which is done on private land 1.4 km away from the fort and the meat is distributed among pilgrims and nearby villagers.
When is Bakrid?
Bakrid will be celebrated on 7 june this year across the country. On the occasion of this festival, people of the Muslim community sacrifice animals. According to the Islamic calendar, Bakrid is celebrated on the 10th of the month of Zil Hijj. Bakrid was announced on 7 june after the moon was sighted in India. Muslims express their devotion to Allah by sacrificing on Bakrid. According to their capacity, people of Muslim community sacrifice animals and also distribute the meat among each other.
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