For second year in a row, Muslim faithful mark Eid-al-Adha under Covid-19 curbs
The festival of Bakrid also known as Eid-ul-Adha or Eid-al-Adha is going down tomorrow Tuesday as Kenya grapples with Delta variant Covid-19 infections.
Eid-ul-Adha is a key festivals observed by the Muslim faithful and is celebrated on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Zul Hijjah. Celebrations of the same last for three days.
Globally, Muslims celebrate by praying, wearing new clothes, enjoying delicious cuisines and by spending the day with friends and family.
However, this year’s celebrations will be different due to Covid-19 pandemic. Many won’t be able to visit their friends and family as well as large gatherings will also be limited due to the Covid curb put in place by the ministry of health.
Health CECs, Roble Nunow from Garissa, Dr Mohamud Aden from Mandera and Ismail Issack CEC from Wajir counties, have urged Muslim faithful to observe the guidelines to stop the spread of the virus.
In a statement, the CECs warned of the highly transmissible Delta strain reported in Western, Nyanza and Coast regions.
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They urged those with flu-like symptoms and fever to stay at home and not attend the celebrations.
“Wearing of masks will be mandatory and the faithful should desist from handshaking and hugging. The faithful should use ablution at home to avoid crowding at mosque ablution blocks and all vehicles should be parked at a distance away to avoid congestion at the Idd ground. Eid prayers should be shortened to a maximum of one hour.”
According to Islamic teachings, faithful celebrate this day in honor of how Prophet Ibrahim, was asked by God to sacrifice his son Ismail. Moved by his faith and devotion, however, God sent the angel Jibra’il or Gabriel with a goat and asked him to replace his son with the goat.
