Beyond the Ledger of Faith: The Unseen Economy of Eid al-Adha
Beyond the Ledger of Faith: The Unseen Economy of Eid al-Adha Dr. Asif Nawaz Assistant Professor Hamdard Institute of International Studies (HIIS) Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi Email: draasifnawaz@gmail.com Mobile: +91-9013228794 Walking through the bustling lanes of Delhi’s Muslim dominated Neighborhoods in last one week, and later navigating the vibrant, multi-cultural quarters of Lucknow in the last two days, I found myself swept up in a unique pre-festival energy of Eid-Ul-Adha. The streets were alive with a distinct fervour; crowds milled around temporary livestock markets, sizing up goats, negotiating prices, and making their purchases for sacrifice on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. While the buyers were predictably Muslim, a closer look at the other side of the transaction revealed a fascinating counter-narrative: the sellers, breeders, and middle-men transporting these animals from the hinterlands belonged overwhelmingly to various different faiths and communities. This visual c...