Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) The livestock markets in Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid area are witnessing high footfalls and doing brisk business as Muslims gear up to celebrate Eid-ul-Zuha Monday. The most expensive goat this year is priced at Rs.1.5 lakh!

“Due to natural patterns, one side of this goat’s back reads ‘Allah’ while the other side has ‘Muhammad’ etched on it,” said Mohammed Sabir standing next to Chanda the goat, which is adorned with a garland and coloured frills.

However, a similar goat last year, though much healthier, had a price tag of a whopping Rs.4.5 lakh.

“My goat is not so fat and that is why it is comparatively cheap. Its weight is around 20-25 kg,” added Sabir, who has come here from Uttar Pradesh to sell the animal. “But her coat and teeth are perfect,” he adds hurriedly.

Muslims across the globe celebrate Eid-ul-Azha to mark the day when Prophet Ibrahim was even willing to sacrifice his son Ismail to please Allah. According to Muslim belief, Allah replaced Ismail with a sheep just as Ibrahim was about to slit the throat of his son. Hence the tradition of sacrificing an animal.

Catching eyeballs in Old Delhi is a twin pair of white-coloured sheep from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Weighing around 50 kg each, the duo can set you back by Rs.2.67 lakh.

“I call them Badhshah and Raja and have been looking after them for the last six months, feeding them on time and taking care of their health,” said Alam Huzoor, their owner.

According to shopkeepers, the popular breeds are Mewati, Barbari, Desi and Totapuri which have arrived from neighbouring sates like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and are mostly priced between Rs.5,000 and Rs.10,000.

According to tradition, a sacrificial goat has to be selected carefully. It should be healthy, with a strong physique, and should not have any deformities.

“Goats with two and four teeth are middle-aged and ideal for slaughtering. The ones with six teeth are old and must be avoided,” a buyer, Faisal Khan, said.