Despite the development of online donation of sacrificial animals, the inhabitants of Kazakhstan still prefer traditional markets.
With the approach of the Curban-Bayrama holiday, a special atmosphere is felt in the country. In various regions, including the capital of Astana, in the markets organized outside the city, revival is observed. Citizens come to the markets with whole families to personally choose an animal for sacrifice.
Police officers are on duty on the spot – to regulate the movement and ensure order in the clusters of people and cars.
Shepherds who arrived from all over the country offer small cattle for sale, trying to interest buyers. In turn, visitors to the market do not forget about the traditional bargaining, trying to agree on a discount.
Some buyers immediately load purchased animals into cars and leave, others are lined up at the points of the face located next to the market.
Despite the popularity of online platforms for sacrifice, interest in traditional markets in Kazakhstan remains high.
“I think everyone will find their buyer”
Shepherd Serik Bekenov told Anadolu that he brought sheep grown to the pastures of the southern regions of Kazakhstan to the capital.
“small livestock is in great demand, so I brought 100 sheep. In the first hours of the first day I sold more than 30. I plan to stay in the market for a few more days and I am sure that there are buyers,” he said.
According to Bekenov, prices vary depending on the size: large sheep cost from 100 to 130 thousand tenge, smaller – from 50 to 70 thousand tenge.
Laura Agabekova, who came to the bazaar with her husband, said that their family is trying to make a sacrifice annually in Kurban-Bayrama.
“This year we chose small cattle. We plan to transfer meat to several familiar to low -income families,” she shared.
Agabekova also emphasized that in Kazakhstan the holiday of Kurban-Bayrama is traditionally celebrated in a family atmosphere. “We will cover the holiday table at home, gather the whole family and read prayers in memory of the departed relatives,” she added.
Kurban -Bayrama – a festival of sacrifice dedicated to the end of Haja (pilgrimage to Mecca). On the last day of Haj, Muslims are stabbing a sacrificial animal, dishes that they eat themselves and give out to relatives and needy.