EGYPT: Egyptians perform morning prayers ahead of celebrations marking Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice
Record ID:
862241
EGYPT: Egyptians perform morning prayers ahead of celebrations marking Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice
- Title: EGYPT: Egyptians perform morning prayers ahead of celebrations marking Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice
- Date: 7th November 2011
- Summary: MORE OF PEOPLE PRAYING PEOPLE PRAYING/ CHEERS ERUPTING AS PRAYERS END
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt, Egypt
- City:
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA9D9I6YSOBUUNS6471SEMXSPVR
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Egyptians celebrated the biggest Muslim holiday of the year on Sunday (November 6), with many of those who attended mass prayers saying they hoped that landmark parliamentary elections would bring a brighter future.
Muslims gathered in mosques around the country from before dawn to mark the start of the three day Eid al-Adha holiday, which commemorates the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command.
Thousands gathered at the Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque in Cairo for dawn prayers and the street festival that traditionally follows.
This is the first Eid since the revolt that toppled long-time Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and this year the customary contingent of riot police was replaced by a group of volunteers from a revolutionary group who helped organize the event.
With parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on November 28, the large gathering was also an opportunity for contesting political parties to get their message out, and the square was festooned with election posters from aspiring parties and candidates.
As dawn broke, the park outside Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque was filled with families who recited prayers together on a brisk autumn morning.
Campaigning in Egypt's landmark ballot began on Wednesday (November 2) in what many hope will be the country's first fully free and fair elections.
Egypt has suffered through a period of economic and political instability, marked by brief outbursts of sectarian and political violence, after the uprising that toppled Mubarak, and many are hoping the elections will mark a turning point for the better.
"We're very happy that all these people have come together, and may it always bring us goodness and prosperity. And God willing, the future will be better," said Adel Abdul Fadil.
Many people expect the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group officially banned during the Mubarak era, to outperform their rivals in the elections.
Posters from the Muslim Brotherhood's political party, the Freedom and Justice Party, were hung prominently in Mustafa Mahmoud Square on Sunday.
Ayman Eid Ibrahim said he hoped that the people who come to power after the elections will deliver the aspirations many had for a better future after Mubarak's fall.
"God willing we have hope in our Lord, and we have hope in the people who will come after this (the elections), so that our future will be bright, and that Egypt will be better, and that everyone's situation will improve -- because we heard many times that things would improve after the revolution," he said.
After Eid prayers many Muslims carry out a ritual sacrifice of a sheep or cow, and visit their families to celebrate the holidays. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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