Decorated Sacrificial Animals Attracting Children, Buyers

News Desk

Islamabad: As Eid-ul-Azah approaches, children on the streets and roads are found decorating their sacrificial animals with different kinds of garlands of beads, crowns, and bells, and parents are witnessed equally participating in these activities in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Following the sale of sacrificial animals in twin cities’ makeshift cattle markets, enthusiastic buyers, especially youngsters, are taking a keen interest in buying some unique names and heavy-weight animals.

Despite the high cost of sacrificed animals, most people visit animal markets to purchase them well in advance of Eid so that their family members, particularly children, have the most time with the animals before they are slaughtered to fulfil ‘Allah Almighty’s’ command. Animals with huge weights and strange names, such as cows, bulls, camels, goats, and lambs, are becoming a common sight at the livestock markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. For the attraction of buyers, sacrificial animals are being decorated with colourful garlands, sterling bands, embellished belts, and crowns.

“We brought different sorts of garlands to decorate the sacrificed animals. According to Nasir, a Rawalpindi animal trader, these decorations enhance the animal’s appearance and draw customers in. He further said that some customers even used mehndi (henna) to beautify the sacrificed animals.

As a bride doesn’t look beautiful without jewellery, similarly, a sacrificial animal wouldn’t look lovely without jewellery and a sacrificed animal wouldn’t appear appealing without these ornaments, said Samina, a resident of Islamabad. Her children are very excited and stay engaged with the goat they have brought for sacrifice, she added.

Children are having the best time while visiting the cattle market, stated Usman, a resident of Islamabad.

Youngsters have also been taking pictures and selfies with their specially named animals and sharing them on social media, added Khalid Ahmed.

Talking about the high prices, Ahmed told that an average-size cow, which was available for Rs 90,000, is being sold for Rs 140,000 this year. The sellers are cashing in on the festive occasion and charging higher prices for such unique-named animals, said another citizen.

Additional input from APP