Eid al-Adha: The Muslim festival of sacrifice [GRAPHIC]

Amazing photos, Nick (and a nice write up too). There’s nothing quite like a little taste of death to make you appreciate life, is there?

Amazing, amazing pics, Nick. As I said when I posted it on FB, one of the best photo essays I’ve seen in a while.

Many thanks for your comments, everyone. I’ve found it quite difficult to integrate the experience of shooting this photo essay (and some of the more graphic images – not pictured – still come back to me sometimes when I close my eyes), so it’s gratifying to hear that people are taking something from it.

Good one, Nick! Evocative and very real!
I find myself hoping the animals had good lives up until Eid! If so, they’re better off than most farm animals in the west.

true stuff. Thanks Nick. Your contributions are always unique and valuable and this photo essay is exactly the kind of travel content that I love.
The story of Abraham and the sacrificial ram is one that I know well from my Sunday school days. It was a favorite fable of unwavering devotion, much like the story of Job. But more often than not they provoked distrust and uneasiness of the adults preaching.

Wow. I saw a movie that took place in Algeria and there was live footage of a similar event taking place in a small village. It was a spectacle, but nothing in comparison to what you’ve captured here. Very provocative!

Fantastic photo essay Nick! So well done.

Nick,although yr pic’s are the reality of a religion however you’ve missed the spirit of it .It is not only sacrificing a sheep for God but also sharing the meat with poor people who have not chance to eat meat very often in their lives .The rule is you have to give away 6 parts of it to others(poors) and you can only keep one part of the animal for yourself.This way lots of poor people accept meat from their wealthy neighbours and feed their families.Just wanted to add this info.

Wow. These photos really show what Eid is like. I lived in Muslim countries for four years and finally worked up the stomach to see the sacrifice last year. It was so common to see goats all around, tied to the roofs of cars, etc. that I never even thought to take pictures of it! The one I attended was more of a family affair with our landlord’s, so it was seen as a religious event and I didn’t feel comfortable bringing out the camera. My landlady was muttering ‘bismillahs’ that entire time, and half the family couldn’t bear to watch. They actually started skinning the goat when it was still kicking.

The trend up the upper class in Pakistan is to “order” their Eid meat from local stores so they don’t have to deal with all the blood and mess in their car parks. I found the concept interesting, especially because “With your consent, Zenith will distribute the meat among the destitute on its own.”

And another thing ………..you Mr. Heather, you are wrong about Pakistanis. Whether its the upper class or the lower class, we all do it the way we have been Ordered. I do not know what fucking country you are talking about. Never try to be Over smart when it comes to anything about PAKISTAN. UNDERSTAND???

disgusting.these cruel guys are going to hell. 

heartless people.hope they are born as animals in their next birth and are slaughtered the same way they do to these innocent animals.

May God sent these slaughter-loving bastards to hell!

It is a shame to see such a celebration of a tradition that springs from a very nice religious story be turned into this monstrosity. The aim of the sacrifice is not only to slaughter just to commemorate, but it is also a festival where people who have a lot get to give to people who have nothing as the meat from the slaughter (which is supposed to be treated with compassion, kindness and clean hygienic handling) is supposed to be distributed among poor families. It’s also a festival of sharing and helping, but like many religious festivals in all religions, something somewhere has gone wrong and it still trails to what we see gruesomely in the pictures!