Philippine Muslims Mark Eid-ul-Adha with Prayers, Feasts

Across the predominantly Catholic Philippines, Muslims on Tuesday celebrated Eid-ul-Adha as thousands descended on Manila’s Golden Mosque to offer prayers.

BenarNews photographers captured the solemn but joyous gatherings in Manila and in the town of Balo-i, just outside the devastated city of Marawi in the southern Philippines, 10 months after the end of a deadly siege by militants linked to the so-called Islamic State. Residents remain displaced as the military has been unable to clear Marawi of all unexploded ordnance and munitions dropped on the city to dislodge the militants.

About 12,000 people are still uprooted and in dire need of assistance, according to Mohammad Agakhan Sharief, president of Khadija Mohammad Islamic Academy in Balo-i. Some of the families helped in preparing meat for distribution to thousands of displaced families, including many living in tents or with relatives.

“I am confident that Marawi will rise again in peace,” said Hasip Bingol of Turkey’s Care Solidarity and Development Association, which supported the local Eid celebration.

Millions of Muslims in the region celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice that honors Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God and the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. A key part of the celebration is the slaughter of animals for the feast.

In some parts of South and Southeast Asia, Eid was celebrated on Tuesday while the holiday will be observed on Wednesday in other areas.

Luis Liwanag and Froilan Gallardo in Manila and Balo-i contributed to this report.