Multimedia

The above video shows the slautering of sheeps at Darussalam Mosque in Singapore on 31 December 2006. Our administrator, Samuel, went to the mosque with his Malay teacher, Mr Mohd Faizal, and a group of students to witness the Korban and hence took this video and some photos. Every year's Hari Raya Haji, Muslims around the world slaughter animals as sacrifice to Allah and to thank Allah.

Though this might not seem directly related to the Chengdu culture, it is somehow related, and we can always look at both cultures, in terms of why residents in Chengdu eat mutton and drink mutton soup on the day of Dongzhi and the Muslims around the world do similiar things.

$page$

Introduction to Hari Raya Haji
Eid ul-Adha occurs on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja. It is one of two Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. Eid ul-Adha is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for God. Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha also begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon (khuṭba).

It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar, after Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

Eid ul-Adha is three days long starting the day after the pilgrims in hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims world wide) descend from mount Arafat.

Eid ul-Adha (Adha Eid) is also known as Hari Raya Haji/Iduladha/Aidiladha/Qurbani/Qurban in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

Today, the meat of slaughtered sheeps are often given to people from the poor countries in the world, whose people are suffering from hunger. Alternatively, a mutton feast can be held at the mosque. It is also learnt that the slaughtered sheep is prohibited from being sold. A sheep costs about S$200.

$page$

Introduction to Dongzhi
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms (節氣). Dōngzhì (pīnyīn) is 22nd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 285°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. In Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around December 21 (December 22 East Asia time) and ends around January 5.

In China, Dongzhi was originally celebrated as an end-of-harvest festival. Today, it is observed with a family reunion over the long night, when pink and white tangyuan or mutton are eaten in sweet broth to symbolise family unity and prosperity.

$page$

Now you can see that the Chinese and the Muslims do the same thing but of different meanings. Isn't that interesting? If this is the first time you are looking at the Korban, you might not be able to agree to what was done. Please respect the Muslims as the Korban is their belief. Racial and religious understanding is important and CHENGDU TIME hopes that you will appreciate different cultures.

Some photos taken at the Korban:


Mutton Curry with Rice
$page$

Some sandwiches


Malay mutton soup


$page$





$page$





$page$