The four-day holiday is a time for prayers and meetings with loved ones.
Most Polish Muslims live in the country's eastern Podlaskie region. There, special morning prayers will be taking place at the historic mosques in Bohoniki and Kruszyniany, the last two historic mosques in Poland, with mizars, or Muslim cemeteries, next to them.
In addition, celebrations will be held at the mosque in the regional capital Białystok.
The Muslim Religious Union in Poland emphasized that Kurban Bajram is a time to remember the great trial that God put Ibrahim (Abraham) through, along with his son and entire family.
A major part of Kurban Bajram is the sacrifice of animals. The ritual takes place in memory of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) sacrifice, who wanted to sacrifice his son to God.
The sacrificial animals are bought by those believers who can afford the expense, and the meat is shared among the participants of the ceremony.
Mufti Tomasz Miśkiewicz, chairman of the Muslim Religious Union in Poland, in an opening sermon, wished believers health, joy, peace in their hearts and asked Allah for mercy, blessing, strengthening of faith, acceptance of sacrifices and mercy and peace for the entire Muslim community.
"Let us think about what we are able to sacrifice for our own good, what valuable sacrifice we can make for the common good,” he said. "The worst thing is omission, passivity."
The leaders of the Union estimate the number of Polish Muslims, mainly Tatars, at around 5,000.
The number of all Muslims in Poland, including students, entrepreneurs, diplomats and refugees from Islamic countries, is estimated at around 60,000.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP