site.btaVazrazhdane Leader Greets Bulgarian Muslims on Eid al-Adha

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov published a Facebook post on Friday to greet Muslims living in Bulgaria on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

Kostadinov wrote: "Happy holiday and may God bless you! We are one people, we have one homeland, one common destiny."

Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice) is celebrated for four days, during which families meet and ask for forgiveness. The day heralding the coming of Bayram is called Arafat Day. Then women knead mekitsa, home-made cakes, prepare halva and present the food to their neighbours, relatives and friends for the souls of the deceased. On the first day of the holiday, a traditional prayer called Bayram Namaz is said in which only men participate. It is preceded by the customary morning prayer, Sabah Namaz, and the time between the two is filled with the reading of sermons specially prepared for the occasion. A major tradition of the festival is the sacrifice of animals for health, success, and prosperity. Tradition dictates that the wealthy give a portion of the sacrificed animal to relatives and impoverished families.