Thousands of people from Northern Ireland’s Muslim community gathered in Belfast to celebrate Eid al-Adha.
One of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar, Eid al-Adha, is celebrated with special prayers and feasts.
The holiday commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command.
The prayers were supposed to take place in the Botanic Gardens, but rain forced the event to be moved to a nearby sports center.
Organizers said nearly 4,000 people were expected to attend the event Wednesday morning.
Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar, so the dates of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha change every year.
It is traditional to wear new clothes for Eid and eat something sweet on the way to the mosque, like a date.
Haneen came to Northern Ireland from Jordan
Haneen, a dentist and PhD student originally from Jordan, said it was a huge day for the Muslim community around the world.
“It’s a religious festival, but it brings people together socially,” she said.
“You can meet new people – we invited everyone from the Muslim center to our home.
“Even to non-Muslims we say, ‘Come, eat some meat.’
Sufyan and Iman said they are trying to mark Eid in a different way in Belfast
Sufyan and Iman, nursing students from Morocco and Dubai, said the Muslim community in Northern Ireland was much bigger than they expected.
“We’re in a different country, so we’re trying to do Eid differently,” Sufyan said.
“The whole idea is devotion to God and sacrifice, but at the same time we connect with friends, with family – we try to use this time to be together.”
Celebrations will continue at the Botanic Gardens throughout Wednesday.