Eid-ul-Adha: A Festival of Sacrifice, Celebration, and Preparation

Eid-ul-Adha, the holy festival that celebrates the spirit of sacrifice, returns once again after a year. This sacred occasion, deeply rooted in Islamic tradition, is a time when devout Muslims offer animal sacrifices to please Allah, observing the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). It’s not just a ritual—it’s a heartfelt expression of faith, devotion, and obedience.

With religious solemnity blending beautifully with joyous family gatherings, Eid-ul-Adha—also known as the Festival of Sacrifice—turns into a vibrant and emotional event in every Muslim household. From early preparations to the final day of sacrifice and feasting, this Eid involves countless tasks. Unlike Eid-ul-Fitr, the scope of activities during Eid-ul-Adha is far broader. From purchasing animals to sacrificing them, distributing and preserving the meat, cooking special dishes, serving guests, and keeping the home tidy—there's hardly a moment to rest on the big day. That’s why making some preparations in advance can help ease the pressure and allow more time to enjoy the celebration with family.

Clothing for Eid: Dressing Up with Joy

While shopping for new clothes may not be as grand as it is for Eid-ul-Fitr, many still love to buy at least one or two new outfits for Eid-ul-Adha. These days, fashion houses prepare stylish outfits for people of all ages, even for this Eid. For many, Eid is the only time of the year when they buy new clothes, so it’s best to finish your shopping before the animal markets get too crowded. If not done yet, the final days before Eid are a good time to visit nearby shopping malls.

Children should always come first when it comes to Eid clothing. Their happiness in wearing new clothes adds a special charm to Eid. For girls, options like frocks, lehengas, and shararas are available, while boys can choose from panjabis and fatuas—all in trendy new designs.

Since Eid day is usually packed with work, it’s better to go for light, comfortable clothing rather than overly decorative outfits. Cotton, linen, and soft blends are popular choices in this season. Young women can opt for coordinated fashion sets, with light or vibrant colors keeping the rainy season in mind. Sarees, salwar kameez, and kurtis also come in fresh, new styles. Men can find panjabis, shirts, and T-shirts designed for both comfort and style. Families who love to match can even buy coordinated outfits for everyone.

If you need to attend an invitation, you can change into something fancier later in the day. Keep your makeup and hairstyle minimal and neat, especially since there will be plenty of activity throughout the day.

Major local fashion brands like Aarong, Rang Bangladesh, La Rive, Gentle Park, Kay Kraft, and Naborupa offer clothes for all age groups, and many are running special discounts right up to Eid day. It’s a great opportunity to grab your favorite outfits for everyone.

Prepping the Home: A Clean and Welcoming Space

Although Eid-ul-Adha revolves around the act of sacrifice, welcoming guests is also a cherished part of the celebration. That’s why preparing your home is important. A clean and tidy house not only makes guests feel welcome, but also lifts the mood.

Start by dusting and cleaning the walls, corners, and furniture. Even the best décor won’t shine if the space is dusty. Use clean bedsheets, replace cushion covers, and choose light-colored fabrics to make rooms feel more spacious.

Add a refreshing touch with indoor plants and fresh flowers in vases. Use room fresheners, scented candles, or diffusers to create a calming and pleasant environment for guests and family alike.

Organizing the Kitchen: The Heart of Eid

The kitchen bears most of the workload during Eid-ul-Adha. After the sacrifice, almost everything—from meat processing to storage and cooking—happens in the kitchen. That’s why it's important to get it organized well in advance so that you’re not scrambling for tools on Eid day.

• Clean and sharpen cutting tools like cleavers, knives, and choppers. If necessary, get them professionally sharpened.

• Keep plenty of polythene or ziplock bags handy for storing meat. Make sure rice cookers, pressure cookers, and other essential pots and pans are clean and accessible.

• Check your refrigerator first. Since meat will be stored in it, cook any stored food ahead of time to free up space. If you haven’t cleaned your fridge in the past couple of months, do it now. Get it serviced if needed.

Spice and Ingredient Prep: Making Cooking Easier

Many delicious meat dishes are cooked during Eid, so having the right ingredients prepared in advance can make things smoother.

• Slice a large batch of onions the night before Eid and store them in airtight containers in the fridge. This will save time and effort.

• If you prefer blended onions, add a small amount of water and store the paste in the freezer.

• Prepare ginger and garlic paste in advance and store them in containers.

• Make spice blends for biryani, kebabs, or chotpoti ahead of time and store them in jars.

• Gather whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaves and keep them in a separate container. Keep a small mortar and pestle nearby for crushing when needed.

Serving Guests: Tableware and Dining Décor

Since guests are likely to visit on Eid, take out your best dinnerware a day before. Wash and polish plates, bowls, serving spoons, glasses, and trays. For ceramic dishes, mix a little lemon juice with liquid soap for a sparkling finish.

Don’t forget the dining space. A clean, well-decorated dining table enhances the experience. Use a table runner, add chair covers if you like, and place a few showpieces or a decorative candleholder on the table. Match the runner and napkins to your tableware or go for a contrasting color to make the table pop.

Cooking in Advance: Lighten the Load

Although most meals on Eid will be meat-based, it’s smart to prepare some items beforehand for your family or guests.

• Make desserts like payesh, shemai, or shahi tukda the night before and store them in the fridge.

• Take advantage of seasonal fruits to create refreshing sweet dishes.

• If you plan to serve chotpoti or pasta, cook the lentils or prep the vegetables and meat in advance.

• If kebabs are on the menu, try preparing them from minced meat the day before. It’s easier than trying to cook them from scratch using fresh Qurbani meat.

• Parathas and rotis can be half-cooked and stored, so they’re easy to fry and serve later.

• To save time on tea, prepare a large amount of tea liquor and store it in a flask. Bake cookies or pound cake the night before for serving with tea.

Final Touches: Safety, Hygiene, and Health

• Get tools for sacrifice—such as mats, rexine sheets, knives, and choppers—ready beforehand.

• Keep bleaching powder for disinfecting the area after the sacrifice.

• Accidents can happen during meat cutting, so have Savlon, antiseptic, gauze, and bandages on hand.

• Store meat in small packets for convenience. Label them based on cuts (e.g., leg, shoulder) if possible.

• Rinse the meat before storing and remove excess water. Items like liver or brain taste best when cooked fresh.

• If you can’t store everything in the freezer, cook the meat with turmeric, salt, and chili, then preserve it.

Taking Care of Yourself

Amid all the hustle and bustle, don’t forget to look after yourself. It’s summer, so stay hydrated—drink plenty of water. If you sweat a lot, drink saline or lemon-salt drinks to keep your body energized.

Avoid the fatty parts of the meat and go for leaner cuts. If you have cholesterol issues, boil the meat first and discard the water before cooking. Eat plenty of salad and yogurt with meals to help with digestion. Avoid soft drinks and instead have borhani or matha made with yogurt.

Eat moderately. Overeating during Eid can spoil your health and make you feel sluggish.

Conclusion: A Joyful Eid Begins with Preparation

With early planning and teamwork, Eid day can be stress-free and filled with joy. When everyone helps each other, the workload feels lighter and the day becomes more enjoyable. May this Eid-ul-Adha, enriched by the spirit of sacrifice, bring spiritual fulfillment, unity, and happiness to your life and home.