Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 26
The Holy Ka'aba 41. Eid-ul-Adhia Ո. Another very important festival which comes about ten weeks after the Eid-ul-Fitr is called Eid-ul-Adhia. It is also called 'The festival of sacrifice', and is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim calendar; the day which marks the close of the Haj ceremony or Pilgrimage to the Ka'aba. . Haj ceremony. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam. During this season pilgrims from all over the globe flock to Mecca in Arabia and the finest example of true brotherhood of man is shown to the world, otherwise torn by political, economic, religious and cultural strife. . Haj is performed during the period from 8th to 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. . The important rituals associated with this ceremony are as follows: i) Putting on IHRAM: A male pilgrim has to discard his usual clothes and dress himself in two white sheets of seamless cloth. . One sheet is wrapped round the waist covering the lower abdo26