Indian Muslims and Hindus came together to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, as they shared meals to mark the Feast of Sacrifice. 

With over 200 million people professing Islam, Hindu-majority India has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population. 

The holiday is a time of unity and togetherness for Muslims, with many looking forward to spending the day with friends of different faiths. 

“I welcome my Hindu neighbors to my home to celebrate and eat the food that we prepare on this special occasion,” said a Muslim Delhi resident.

“Not only that, we distribute the raw meat of the sacrificed animals to our relatives and Hindu friends, too. This meat is very sacred, and everyone understands that,” he added. 

Indian Muslims have faced increasing discrimination and challenges in the past decade, but despite incidents of communal violence, Muslims believe that the festival serves as a reminder of India’s secular spirit.

The spirit of togetherness binds India’s diverse communities, said another Muslim from Punjab.

“In India, Eid is not a one-religion festival. Here, people from all faiths participate in each other’s festivals. On Eid, we invite our Hindu and Sikh friends to dine with us and partake whatever we prepare. It becomes an occasion to assert our sense of community and strengthen our communal bonding,” he added.