Matiang’i declares Friday a Public Holiday

Friday, July 31, 2020, has been declared a Public Holiday to mark Idd ul Azha.

Also known as Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice Feast), the feast is celebrated to honour the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as an act of obedience to God's command.

During the feast, Muslims re-enact Ibrahim's obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram.

The family will then eat about a third of the meal a third goes to friends and relatives, and the remaining third is donated to the poor and needy.

It often falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.

As the exact day is based on lunar sightings, the date may vary between countries.

However, due to the Coronavirus and the ban on social gatherings, many might have to celebrate at home without violating the regulations issued by the Ministry of Health.