Penza, 24 September 2015. PenzaNews. Muslims all over the world, including the Penza region, begin celebrating the religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice (known in Russia as “Kurban-bayram”). This year’s celebrations will take place on September 24-26.

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The Penza Muslims began to gather by the cathedral mosque on Bakunina street long before the sunrise.

The holiday sermon was followed by a prayer.

The celebration ritual attracted so many people, some man had to flow out in the yard of the mosque. After the yard got full, the police officers protecting the public order offered the other Muslims to occupy the nearby market square for the prayer.

The head officials of the city and the region congratulated the Muslims with the holiday on Thursday, September 24.

Islyam Dashkin, chairman of the Muslim spiritual directorate in the Penza region, member of the Russia Council of Muftis, also congratulated the believers of Muslim faith.

“In the bright days of the holiday, every Muslim seeks to visit his family, congratulate those who live with him and the next door. I pray for the Almighty to give all Muslims the unity and the power of iman, understanding and forgiveness, love and compassion. I wish peace, mercy, blessing of the Almighty for you and your relatives! May the Allah accept your fast on the Day of Arafah and give forgiveness for our sins and mistakes! May Allah bless us all,” the press service of the Muslim spiritual directorate in the region quotes the mufti.

Following the Islamic tradition, the Muslims will make sacrifices (Qurbani). The meat of each sacrificial animal is to be divided into three portions: one for the poor, another for friends and relatives, and the third for the family.

No sacrifices will be held in the yard of the Penza cathedral mosque, as it lacks a dedicated area for the ritual. Because of that, Muslims will make sacrifices in villages and backyards of private houses.

As PenzaNews agency reported earlier, the Muslim community of the Penza region received 700 sacrificial animals from Chechnya for Eid al-Adha.

The celebration of Eid al-Adha marks the end of the annual Hajj to Mecca, a mandatory religious duty for all Muslims.