Hyderabad: Thousands offered prayers at open grounds and mosques across Andhra Pradesh on Eid-ul-Zuha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice today (Jan 1, 2007). 

The biggest congregation was at the historic Mir Alam Idgah here where more than 300,000 people offered prayers. The historic Makkah Masjid, Eidgah Madannapet and other open grounds here also witnessed thousands bending down in prayer.

Special prayers were offered for world peace and for unity among Muslims. Devotees exchanged greetings after the prayers and then sacrificed cattle to mark the day, also known as Bakr Eid.

It was on this day more than 5,000 years ago that Prophet Ibrahim had offered to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismael to the Almighty. Sacrificing cattle is binding on those who can afford it. 

The meat of the sacrificed cattle is distributed among relatives, friends and the poor. 

People here were seen buying cattle even after the prayers. Thousands of goats and sheep brought from rural areas were sold at different places in the city. Poor people were seen thronging houses to get a share of the meat. 

Scenes of communal harmony were witnessed as non-Muslims greeted their Muslim brethren. People were seen embracing devotees coming out of mosques after offering prayers.

Huge congregations were also seen in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Adilabad, Kurnool and other major towns in the state. 

Police had made elaborate security arrangements on the occasion. Muslims comprise 40 percent of Hyderabad's four million population.