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Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Economic hardships subdue the mood for Eid Al-Adha this year
JAKARTA: Less spending, higher prices and fewer animal sacrifices subdued the usual festive mood as the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha was celebrated in many parts of the world. In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, Muslim worshippers were shoulder-to-shoulder in the streets and the Istiqlal Grand Mosque was filled for morning prayers Friday. Eid Al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of Sacrifice,' coincides with the final rites of the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. It's a joyous occasion, for which food is a hallmark with devout Muslims buying and slaughtering animals and sharing two-thirds of the meat with the poor. Outside Jakarta, the Jonggol Cattle Market bustled with hundreds of cattle traders hoping to sell to buyers looking for sacrificial animals. While sales increased ahead of Eid, sellers said their businesses have lost customers in recent years due to economic hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic. A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2022 to 2023 also significantly dampened the typically booming holiday trade in goats, cows and sheep, though Indonesia's government has worked to overcome that outbreak. Rahmat Debleng, one of the sellers in the market, said before the pandemic and the FMD outbreak, he could sell more than 100 cows two weeks ahead of Eid Al-Adha. But on the eve of the celebration this year, only 43 of his livestock were sold, and six cows are still left in his stall. 'Though the foot-and-mouth outbreak threats remain loom large, but the declining in sales mostly because of economic hardship,' Debleng said. Jakarta city administration data recorded the number of sacrificial animals available this year at 35,133, a decline of 57 percent compared to the previous year. The government has made next Monday an additional holiday after Friday's festival to allow people more time with their families. Eid momentum is expected to support economic growth in Indonesia, where household consumption helps drive GDP. It contributed over 50 percent to the economy last year, though analysts expect more subdued consumer spending in 2025. Eid expected to come Saturday in South Asia Eid Al-Adha commemorates the Qur'anic tale of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Before he could carry out the sacrifice, God provided a ram as an offering. In the Christian and Jewish telling, Abraham is ordered to kill another son, Isaac. South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh will celebrate Eid Al-Adha on Saturday. Ahead of the festival, many Muslims in the region were turning to livestock markets to buy and sell millions of animals for sacrifice. In New Delhi, sellers were busy tending to their animals at these markets, while potential buyers negotiated prices with them. Mohammad Ali Qureshi, one of the sellers, said this year his goats were fetching as high as $640, some $60 more than the last year. 'Earlier, the sale of goats was slow, but now the market is good. Prices are on the higher side,' Ali said. Preparations for the festival were also peaking in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where many Muslims dye sheep and goats in henna before they are sacrificed. 'We are following the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim,' said Riyaz Wani, a resident in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, as his family applied henna on a sheep they plan to sacrifice.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Economic hardships subdue the mood for Eid al-Adha this year
Less spending, higher prices and fewer animal sacrifices subdued the usual festive mood as the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha was celebrated in many parts of the world. In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, Muslim worshippers were shoulder-to-shoulder in the streets and the Istiqlal Grand Mosque was filled for morning prayers Friday. Eid al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of Sacrifice,' coincides with the final rites of the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. It's a joyous occasion, for which food is a hallmark with devout Muslims buying and slaughtering animals and sharing two-thirds of the meat with the poor. Outside Jakarta, the Jonggol Cattle Market bustled with hundreds of cattle traders hoping to sell to buyers looking for sacrificial animals. While sales increased ahead of Eid, sellers said their businesses have lost customers in recent years due to economic hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic. A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2022 to 2023 also significantly dampened the typically booming holiday trade in goats, cows and sheep, though Indonesia's government has worked to overcome that outbreak. Rahmat Debleng, one of the sellers in the market, said before the pandemic and the FMD outbreak, he could sell more than 100 cows two weeks ahead of Eid al-Adha. But on the eve of the celebration this year, only 43 of his livestock were sold, and six cows are still left in his stall. 'Though the foot-and-mouth outbreak threats remain loom large, but the declining in sales mostly because of economic hardship,' Debleng said. Jakarta city administration data recorded the number of sacrificial animals available this year at 35,133, a decline of 57% compared to the previous year. The government has made next Monday an additional holiday after Friday's festival to allow people more time with their families. Eid momentum is expected to support economic growth in Indonesia, where household consumption helps drive GDP. It contributed over 50% to the economy last year, though analysts expect more subdued consumer spending in 2025. Eid expected to come Saturday in South Asia Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic tale of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Before he could carry out the sacrifice, God provided a ram as an offering. In the Christian and Jewish telling, Abraham is ordered to kill another son, Isaac. South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Saturday. Ahead of the festival, many Muslims in the region were turning to livestock markets to buy and sell millions of animals for sacrifice. In New Delhi, sellers were busy tending to their animals at these markets, while potential buyers negotiated prices with them. Mohammad Ali Qureshi, one of the sellers, said this year his goats were fetching as high as $640, some $60 more than the last year. 'Earlier, the sale of goats was slow, but now the market is good. Prices are on the higher side,' Ali said. Preparations for the festival were also peaking in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where many Muslims dye sheep and goats in henna before they are sacrificed. 'We are following the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim,' said Riyaz Wani, a resident in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, as his family applied henna on a sheep they plan to sacrifice. ___
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Economic hardships subdue the mood for Eid al-Adha this year
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Less spending, higher prices and fewer animal sacrifices subdued the usual festive mood as the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha was celebrated in many parts of the world. In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, Muslim worshippers were shoulder-to-shoulder in the streets and the Istiqlal Grand Mosque was filled for morning prayers Friday. Eid al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of Sacrifice,' coincides with the final rites of the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. It's a joyous occasion, for which food is a hallmark with devout Muslims buying and slaughtering animals and sharing two-thirds of the meat with the poor. Outside Jakarta, the Jonggol Cattle Market bustled with hundreds of cattle traders hoping to sell to buyers looking for sacrificial animals. While sales increased ahead of Eid, sellers said their businesses have lost customers in recent years due to economic hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic. A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2022 to 2023 also significantly dampened the typically booming holiday trade in goats, cows and sheep, though Indonesia's government has worked to overcome that outbreak. Rahmat Debleng, one of the sellers in the market, said before the pandemic and the FMD outbreak, he could sell more than 100 cows two weeks ahead of Eid al-Adha. But on the eve of the celebration this year, only 43 of his livestock were sold, and six cows are still left in his stall. 'Though the foot-and-mouth outbreak threats remain loom large, but the declining in sales mostly because of economic hardship,' Debleng said. Jakarta city administration data recorded the number of sacrificial animals available this year at 35,133, a decline of 57% compared to the previous year. The government has made next Monday an additional holiday after Friday's festival to allow people more time with their families. Eid momentum is expected to support economic growth in Indonesia, where household consumption helps drive GDP. It contributed over 50% to the economy last year, though analysts expect more subdued consumer spending in 2025. Eid expected to come Saturday in South Asia Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic tale of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Before he could carry out the sacrifice, God provided a ram as an offering. In the Christian and Jewish telling, Abraham is ordered to kill another son, Isaac. South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Saturday. Ahead of the festival, many Muslims in the region were turning to livestock markets to buy and sell millions of animals for sacrifice. In New Delhi, sellers were busy tending to their animals at these markets, while potential buyers negotiated prices with them. Mohammad Ali Qureshi, one of the sellers, said this year his goats were fetching as high as $640, some $60 more than the last year. 'Earlier, the sale of goats was slow, but now the market is good. Prices are on the higher side,' Ali said. Preparations for the festival were also peaking in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where many Muslims dye sheep and goats in henna before they are sacrificed. 'We are following the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim,' said Riyaz Wani, a resident in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, as his family applied henna on a sheep they plan to sacrifice. ___ Associated Press journalists Shonal Ganguly in New Delhi and Dar Yasin in Srinagar, India contributed to this report.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Beauty at a price: Rajanpuri Nukra goats steal the show at Islamabad's Eid cattle market
ISLAMABAD: With their snow-white coats, drooping pink ears and regal built, Rajanpuri Nukra goats are turning heads and emptying wallets at Islamabad's bustling Eid Al-Adha cattle market this year. A strain of the Beetal goat native to the Rajanpur region of Pakistan's Punjab province, these goats are known for their large size, muscular build and striking white coat. They are highly prized for meat production and are a popular choice for Eid Al-Adha sacrifices, with some selling for as much as Rs2 million ($7,140) this season. At Islamabad's cattle market on Bhatta Chowk earlier this week, many people gathered around the goats to admire their appearance and snap pictures, while others negotiated deals. 'We have come here from Rajanpur as people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi prefer Rajanpuri goats over other breeds due to their white and pink coloration and impressive height,' said merchant Hamza Ali, adding that he had brought 20 of the prized animals to the market and sold most of them within four days. 'We're getting good prices for them here. Of the 20 goats we brought, one sold for Rs2 million last night.' On an average, traders at the market have been selling the Rajanpuri goats for anywhere between Rs200,000 and Rs2 million ($715 to $7,140), a number of merchants said. Highlighting the care involved, Muhammad Umair, a cattle trader, said the goats were nurtured from birth, referring to them as a 'purebred line.' 'We divide them into two groups. Those with good height and large size receive a special diet that includes wanda, choker, desi ghee and other nutritious ingredients,' he told Arab News as he petted one of his animals. Goats similar in size to regular breeds were available at lower prices but still higher than other strains. 'It has large pink ears, white eyes, and a pink nose, along with a pure white coat, which makes it highly attractive to buyers,' Umair added. Muhammad Bilal, a 23-year-old student from Islamabad, said he wanted to buy a Rajanpuri goat because of its white coat and long ears. 'Although the price is a bit higher, we will still buy it because we really like it,' he told Arab News. Another customer Ilyas Khan, 40, expressed frustration over the high prices of the breed, saying they were unaffordable for most visitors at the market. 'My children took pictures with them,' Khan, a businessman, said, 'but these are out of our reach as even the smallest ones are starting at Rs150,000 ($535), which is too much.'
