Eid-ul-Azha, one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, is being celebrated today, Sunday, in many countries across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, due to the sighting of the moon, Oman will celebrate Eid on June 17. The festival is also being observed in various European and African countries, including the United Kingdom.

In Saudi Arabia, approximately two million people from around the globe completed their Hajj rituals and sacrificed animals in a bid to seek divine blessings. The grand Eid congregation took place at the Kaaba Sharif in Mecca and the Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah.

In the UAE, the main Eid congregation was held at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Large congregations also took place in Dubai, Sharjah, and other provinces, with prayers starting between 5:41 am and 5:50 am. Post prayers, the faithful proceeded to designated areas approved by the Emirates government for the sacrificial rites.

Kuwait also marked Eid-ul-Azha with reverence. The largest congregation was held at the Kuwait Grand Mosque, with substantial gatherings of expatriates from various countries at the Hasabia large mosque. For the first time, with permission from the Ministry of Religion, Bangladeshi khatibs delivered Bangla sermons in 20 mosques located in Bangladeshi-dominated areas.

In Qatar, Eid prayers were simultaneously held in 675 mosques across Doha. Expatriate Bangladeshis, including Qatar's appointed ambassador Nazrul Islam, participated in Eid prayers at the MH&M School and College grounds.

Meanwhile, in the besieged Gaza Strip, Palestinians are experiencing a somber Eid amid ongoing turmoil. The people of Gaza are observing the festival in grief, having lost relatives and friends due to recent attacks by Israeli forces. In contrast, Muslims in the West Bank performed Eid-ul-Azha prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The celebration of Eid-ul-Azha extended beyond the Middle East to Europe and Africa. In Spain, Eid congregations were held from 7:30 am to 11:30 am in various cities, with a significant number of Bangladeshis participating in Barcelona and Madrid. 

In Italy, expatriate Bangladeshis observed Eid with religious fervor and festivity, with congregations held in about a hundred mosques and open fields across Rome.

Other countries celebrating Eid today include the UK, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Australia, where Muslims gathered in mosques and open spaces to perform prayers and conduct the sacrificial rituals, fostering a spirit of community and devotion.