Eid al Adha 2026: The festival of Bakrid is just around the corner. In the meantime, let's learn how Eid is celebrated in the United States.

Eid al Adha 2026: As Bakrid approaches, preparations have begun in Muslim communities around the world. In countries like India, animal markets are packed with buyers. However, in the United States, the celebration of this festival is quite different. Let's find out if goats are sacrificed at home in America.

Use of slaughterhouses

In the United States, sacrificing goats or any other animal publicly at home, in backyards, or in residential areas is generally prohibited by local laws related to public health, sanitation, zoning, and animal welfare. Now that home sacrifice is not legally permitted, many Muslim families arrange their sacrifices through licensed halal slaughterhouses or farms.

Before Eid, people often pre-book goats or sheep at government-approved locations. After Eid prayers, families either go to these locations themselves or authorize trained butchers to perform the sacrifice according to Islamic traditions. This arrangement helps maintain the religious custom while also maintaining health and safety standards set by US law.

Online donation for sacrifice abroad

A growing number of Muslims in the United States now opt for online sacrifice services and charity donations rather than arranging sacrifices locally. Organizations like Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid allow people to donate money digitally. These charities then arrange for animal sacrifices in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, or several African countries, where the sacrificial meat is distributed among poor families. This option is becoming increasingly popular.

Direct purchase of Halal meat

Another common method is to purchase halal-certified meat directly from local butcher shops after the Eid prayers. Instead of participating in the sacrifice process themselves, some families purchase pre-prepared halal meat and distribute a portion of it to relatives, friends, and those in need in their community.

Where is Eid prayer performed?

Unlike many Muslim-majority countries, Eid is not a national public holiday in the United States. Therefore, most Muslims take time off from work or school to celebrate the festival. Because mosques in large cities often lack space for the large Eid congregations, prayers are often held in convention centers, sports arenas, football stadiums, or public parks.

PC: ABPNews