Eid al-Adha celebrated in Turkish embassy in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (A.A) - November 8, 2011 - A celebration ceremony for Eid al-Adha religious holiday took place in Turkey's Embassy in Mogadishu on Tuesday. Officials and representatives of Turkish non-governmental organizations in Somalia participated in the ceremony. Ambassador Cemalettin Kani Torun said that Turkish NGOs in Somalia were working hard in Eid al-Adha holiday too, adding that Turkey sacrificed more than 40,000 bovine animals to distribute the meat to needy Somali people. Torun thanked all Turkish institutions and personnel working in Somalia for their efforts. Somalia is facing with one of the worst droughts in the past 60 years. Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isma'il) as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead. The meat is divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the other third is given to the poor and needy.