Understanding Bakar Eid and Its Name

Bakra Eid

28/5/2026

In India, Eid al-Adha is commonly referred to as “Bakra Eid.” In our villages, the fate of the letter ‘qaf’ is often similar to the fate of honesty in government offices—gradually disappearing. Thus, “Bakra Eid” slowly became “Bakri Eid,” with the ‘qaf’ vanishing like tax deductions from a salary, and the ‘kaf’ settling in like a stubborn stain on a wall.

As children, we believed that since goats were sacrificed during this Eid, the festival was named after these innocent creatures. After all, in our society, entire streets and squares are named after semi-literate politicians, so why not name a festival after a goat that offers its neck willingly? Unlike politicians, the goat does not just make speeches; it performs a practical service.

A few days before Eid, goats would strut through every alley as if they were returning from a royal hunt. Children would adorn them with garlands, feed them chickpeas, stroke their horns, and then, just two days later, those same children would pounce on a plate of stew as if they had suddenly been offered a government job. Human affection is peculiar; as long as the goat is alive, it is “Munno” and “Badshah,” but as soon as the knife is drawn, it’s “separate the leg, please!”

The butcher would sharpen his knife with the same flair as a poet twirling his mustache before a recital. The poor goat would stand with such dignity, seemingly unaware that in a few hours, it would be reduced to nothing more than liver, trotters, and mince.

When I had the opportunity to study Arabic, I discovered that the original term is “Baqr Eid,” meaning “the Eid of the cow.” In Arabic, “baqr” refers to a cow. Since the cow is a larger animal, it was given prominence in the name, much like how in the subcontinent, a person of stature is given importance, even if their intellect weighs no more than an empty tin can.

Yet, our language is like a mischievous girl; it cannot rest until it twists a straightforward matter. “Baqr” first became “Bakr,” and in some regions, even “Bakri,” as if the entire festival was entrusted to a feminine creature.

Recently, someone earnestly asked, “Sir, if it’s Bakri Eid, why is a goat sacrificed?” It felt as if someone had interrupted a lecture on Kantian philosophy to ask how much sugar should be in the tea.

The real question is, why isn’t Eid al-Adha called by its original name, when no one refers to Eid al-Fitr as “Sewaiyan Eid,” despite the respect given to vermicelli on that day, which surpasses even the constitution in some countries? If the Arabic term seems heavy, the Persian phrase “Eid Qurban” is available, which rolls off the tongue as smoothly as fresh butter on warm bread.

But no! Our nation treats words like children treat toys. First, they distort the original form, then invent new meanings, and finally take pride in it. Thus, “Baqr Eid” became “Bakr Eid,” and then “Bakri Eid.”

If it truly is “Bakri Eid” or “Bakra Eid,” then we should be recognized as the foremost advocates of animal rights in the world. After all, which nation names its festival after animals? In the West, they form organizations for dogs and cats, collect donations, hold seminars, while we, with such compassion, dedicate an entire Eid to goats and sheep!

The world might say, “These people slaughter animals.” To which we could reply, “Indeed, we do so for a day, but we celebrate an Eid in their name all year long!”

If this logic is extended further, commemorative medals should be issued for sacrificial animals. Perhaps in the future, a “Martyr of the Stew Goat Award” will be distributed in some city, and a textbook might teach, “The goat is a loyal animal that silently contributes to the community’s pots every year.”

It wouldn’t be surprising if an impassioned speaker declared, “This is not just an Eid; it’s a global day of solidarity with the goat community!”

And if “Bakri Eid” is deemed correct, then goats should immediately protest the gender bias in the festival’s name. After all, they too make sacrifices, so why should the fame go to the female goat?

As for the origin of “Baqr Eid,” no authentic research has come to my attention. Research, in any case, is as rare as timely work in a government office. However, it is speculated that the term “Baqr Eid” may have emerged in response to “Eid al-Baqr.” The Shia community refers to the ninth of Rabi’ al-Awwal as “Eid al-Baqr.” One of the meanings of “baqr” is to cut open the belly, and this name is associated with certain historical and religious concepts.

Naming of Eid al-Adha and Its Implications

It is possible that Sunni scholars began referring to “Eid al-Adha” as “Baqra Eid” to counter the connotations of “Eid al-Baqar,” ensuring that the word “Baqr” directs the mind towards the cow, and not elsewhere. However, language is like an untamed horse; once it gallops into the public domain, no dictionary stable can rein it in. Consequently, “Baqra Eid” morphed into “Bakra Eid” and eventually “Bakri Eid,” as if a single word had spawned an entire family tree.

The truth is, we should remember this great Islamic tradition by the names Islam itself has given: “Eid al-Adha” or “Eid al-Qurban.” These are the dignified, correct, and comprehensive names. Otherwise, observing the pace of our colloquial language, there is a fear that future generations might start calling it “Liver Festival” or “Qorma Day,” and then some researcher might write a PhD on the linguistic impacts of Eid al-Adha on the evolution of “Nihari Culture” in the subcontinent.