GUWAHATI — Several Muslim religious committees across Assam have issued appeals requesting community members to abstain from sacrificing cattle during the forthcoming Eid al-Adha festival, according to reports. The requests emerged after the state's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a similar appeal over the weekend.
Muslims constitute approximately 35 per cent of Assam's population, making it one of the northeastern states with significant religious diversity. The festival of Eid al-Adha, also locally known as Bakri Eid, traditionally involves the ritual sacrifice of livestock including goats, sheep, and cattle, with the meat distributed among family, friends, and the underprivileged.
The issue of cattle slaughter remains politically and culturally sensitive across several Indian states, with various legislations governing the practice. Assam enacted the Assam Cattle Preservation Act in 2021, which prohibits the slaughter of cattle in areas predominantly inhabited by non-beef eating communities and restricts transportation of cattle for slaughter. The legislation also bans the sale and purchase of beef near temples and other religious institutions.
The appeals from religious committees represent an attempt to navigate the intersection of religious practice and state regulations. Such voluntary restraint has been observed in previous years as well, with community leaders emphasizing alternative livestock for sacrifice to maintain communal harmony during the festival.