Muslims in Pandharpur defer goat sacrifice as Bakrid coincides with Ekadashi

To honour the sentiments of devotees of Lord Vitthal, we have decided not to carry out the sacrifice of goats, said a member of the Muslim community.Another community member said that lakhs of devotees visit Pandharpur during the Adhik Maas Ekadashi, which occurs once every three years.

The Muslim community in Pandharpur, a temple town in Solapur district, has decided not to sacrifice goats on the occasion of Bakrid as the festival coincides with Ekadashi this year.

Members of the Muslim community said that since the Adhik Maas Ekadashi holds special significance for the Hindu community and falls on the same day as Bakrid this year, it was decided to defer the sacrifice of goats by a couple of days in order to honour religious sentiments.

''I have been living in Pandharpur and have been associated with various festivities of the temple. To honour the sentiments of devotees of Lord Vitthal, we have decided not to carry out the sacrifice of goats,'' said a member of the Muslim community.

Another community member said that lakhs of devotees visit Pandharpur during the Adhik Maas Ekadashi, which occurs once every three years. ''We have decided not to sacrifice goats on that day and will carry it out later,'' he said.

He added that the Muslim community in Pandharpur has deep faith in Lord Vitthal, and on previous occasions too, whenever such a situation arose, the community had refrained from carrying out animal sacrifice.