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Hyderabad being culturally very colourful and having various activities due to its wide variety of festivals has several centres where one could celebrate Eid-ul-Adha with pomp and among Muslims.
The festival is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Zul-Hijjah. Dozens of people dressed in formal attire gathered at mosques across the city to take part in morning Eid prayers. Continue reading this blog to know 5 places in Hyderabad to celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha in detail.
What is Eid-Ul-Adha?
Eid-ul-Adha or the ‘Feast of Sacrifice’ is one of the two very significant Islamic occasions that mark this event in accordance with the prophet Ibrahim’s total obedience to the word of the Almighty and the event when he had to sacrifice his son. Still, he had not been given permission to do so and God in his divine providence supplied a ram to offer for the sacrifice.
It is therefore regarded as an act of faith, or rather a path through which people express their level of faith to God. Many Muslims participate in the festival by performing prayers, sacrificing an animal of their bounty, which are often sheep, goat, cow, or camel depending on the family’s economic status and share the sacrificed animal meat with family members, friends, and the poor. Do you wish to explore a little more about the traditions or the fact behind Eid-ul-Adha?
Here are the five important places in Hyderabad to celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha:-
1Mecca Masjid:
Image cited from: https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2015/08/makkah-masjid-hyderabad.html
Location: Near Charminar, Old City
Description: One of the mosques India’s largest and oldest, Mecca Masjid is an iconic place for Eid prayers. The mosque was built in the 17th century and can accommodate thousands of worshippers. The spiritual atmosphere and majestic architecture make this a central location for Eid celebrations.
One of Hyderabad’s oldest buildings, this mosque is among the biggest in the world, drawing 10,000 men to pray here on important Muslim holidays. Note that female visitors, even wearing a headscarf, are not allowed to enter the grounds if their attire is inappropriate.
Mecca Masjid, one among the largest and oldest mosques in India, has the testimony of the architectural marvel of Qutb Shahi dynasty. Here’s a breakdown of its impressive infrastructure and design:
Infrastructure
Massive Scale: The mosque has capacity of more than 10,000 people at once to offer an insight into the overbearing size and monumentality of the building.
Central Arch: The most identifiable feature is the middle arch which is built with special mud, brought all the way from Mecca, thus the mosque’s name.
Courtyard: A large yard that is conducive for worshippers to get into a state of purity before they are allowed to enter the praying hall.
Design
Indo-Islamic Architecture: The mosque perfectly portrays the overall structure of the Indian Islamic style of architectural design.
Hyderabadi Influence: Employment of local source and workmanship bear testimony to the character of the region.
Functionality: There is a designated open prayer area with a special focus on the layout that enables the accommodation of a large number of people.
2Charminar
Image cited from: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/shahi-masjid-in-public-garden–352477108352173804/
Location: Old Town
Description: The area around Charminar becomes a hub of activity during Eid-Ul-Adha. The streets are filled with festive shoppers and surrounding mosques host large gatherings for Eid prayers. The bustling markets and vibrant atmosphere add to the festive spirit. Over the years, it has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of the city’s heritage.
3Shahi Masjid in Public Garden
Image cited from: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/shahi-masjid-in-public-garden–352477108352173804/
Location: Public Garden, Nampally
Description: This mosque is noted for its large territory and silence as to other mosques. It seems to be a preferred venue for those with families who want to attend the prayers during the celebration of Eid and afterwards go to the gardens around. The mosque plays the role that is needed for users to find a quiet place to pray and also a place to assemble for prayer events.
Public gardens also popularly known as Bagh-e-aam, the word ‘Bagh’ means garden and ‘aam’ means people’s park in Urdu is situated in Nampally. It makes one feel like he or she is in a fairy tale world whenever he or she is in the area. This is said to be one of the few gardens that dates back to the origin of Hyderabad.
4 Hussaini Alam
Image cited from: https://aalemohiuddinqutbi.design.blog/2021/08/13/hussaini-alam-hussaini-alam-aashoorkhana/
Location: Near Charminar, Old Town
Description: Hussaini Alam is another important area of the old town known for its religious and cultural importance. Local mosques hold large Eid services and the streets are filled with celebrations, including food stalls and markets.
Hussaini Alam is an area located in the city of Hyderabad in the southern part of India; it is one of the oldest and culturally rich places of worship restricted to Muslims.
Since it is hard to point out when the area of today’s Muharram was established the history is tied with the Hussaini Alam Ashurkhana, Shia Muslim Shrine. The Ashurkhana is said to have been constructed by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah himself, while he was the Fifth king of Qutb Shahi Dynasty. This puts the order of magnitudes for the time of the area’s ascent in the second half of the 16th or the first half of the 17th century.
5Qutb Shahi Tomb
Image cited from: https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-oppo&sca_esv=f3c357abf0b30c69
Location: Ibrahim Bagh, near Golconda Fort
Description: The historic Qutb Shahi Tomb provides a unique backdrop for Eid celebrations. The area around the tombs is used for collective prayers and the beautiful architecture adds historical significance to the festival.
This is also a great place for families to spend the day exploring the heritage after praying. These places are not only a place to perform Eid prayers but also allow you to immerse yourself in the cultural and festive spirit of Hyderabad. The tomb was built in 1543 A.D.by the Sultan, during his lifetime, as a custom. Close to the tomb of Sultan Quli is that of his child, Jamsheed, the moment within the line of Qutb Shahi sultans.
Hyderabad’s Best Places to get Eid-ul-Adha Food
Eid-ul-Adha is normally spent with family and close friends and like most other occasions, food plays the biggest role on this day. Here are some areas in Hyderabad renowned for their culinary delights, especially during Eid:
Old City
Charminar: It is a great place for homemade cuisine enthusiasts. One can surely expect several small restaurants that offer true Hyderabadi food that includes biryani, kebabs, haleem among others.
Hussaini Alam: There is no doubt that this is one of the neighbourhoods with a great tradition when it comes to food. Eid meals can be ordered in many local restaurants and home based caterers who have instituted very spicy and irresistible meals.
Other Areas
Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills: These areas consist of both local and international foods all delicacies being prepared in the higher category. There are many elegant restaurants and fancy cafes in Metro that provide Eid specific meals.
Ameerpet and Secunderabad: These areas provide the diners with cheap meals from regular outlets and classy local restaurants.
To Sum Up:
Celebrating Eid at these iconic locations allows you to get into the festive spirit, participate in community prayers, and enjoy Hyderabad’s rich heritage and traditions. All the places mentioned in this blog are recommended by Things2do and should not be missed. Also, do not forget to follow @thingstodoinhyderabad on Instagram for new updates related to the experience.
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