Bakrid 2027, Eid al-Adha date in India and the Day of Arafah

Eid al-Adha 2027, known in India as Bakrid or Eid-ul-Zuha, is expected on Monday, 17 May 2027, according to Islamic calendar estimates and the Union government's holiday list for 2027. In Saudi Arabia and much of the Gulf, it is expected a day earlier, on Sunday, 16 May.

As with every Islamic festival, the final date depends on the sighting of the moon that begins the month of Dhul Hijjah. Here are the expected dates and what they mean.

Key points

• Bakrid 2027 in India: expected Monday 17 May (gazetted holiday).
• Saudi Arabia: Day of Arafah expected Saturday 15 May, Eid al-Adha Sunday 16 May.
• Day of Arafah in India: expected Sunday 16 May; many Muslims fast on this day.
• Qurbani (sacrifice) is offered over three days, expected 17 to 19 May in India.
• Dates are confirmed after the Dhul Hijjah moon is sighted, about ten days before Eid.

Eid al-Adha 2027 dates at a glance

The Saudi dates follow the official Umm al-Qura calendar. Indian dates are usually a day later, because the new moon is often sighted in India a day after it is seen in the Gulf.

Why Eid al-Adha moves every year

Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, and its year is about 11 days shorter than the Western year, Eid al-Adha comes about 11 days earlier each year. In 2027 it falls in mid-May, about two months and a week after Eid ul-Fitr on 10 March.

In India, moon-sighting committees announce the start of Dhul Hijjah once the crescent is confirmed. That announcement, usually about ten days before Eid, fixes the date. The government's holiday order also says the date of Id-ul-Zuha may change depending on the moon.

The meaning of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha, "the festival of sacrifice", remembers the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who, according to Islamic tradition, was ready to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) in obedience to God. As he prepared to do so, God provided a ram to be sacrificed in the boy's place.

The festival also marks the end of the main rites of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim who is physically and financially able is expected to make at least once in a lifetime.

The Day of Arafah

The day before Eid, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is the Day of Arafah, the most important day of the Hajj. Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat, near Mecca, to pray from midday to sunset.

Muslims who are not on the Hajj often fast on this day. In 2027, the Day of Arafah is expected on Saturday 15 May in Saudi Arabia, the day pilgrims stand at Arafat. In India, many Muslims will observe the fast on Sunday 16 May, following the Indian calendar date.

Hajj 2027 and Indian pilgrims

Hajj takes place from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. In 2027, the main rites are expected around 14 to 19 May in Saudi Arabia. Indian pilgrims travel through the Haj Committee of India or through registered private tour operators, and applications usually open several months before the pilgrimage. Anyone planning to go in 2027 should follow the Haj Committee of India's official announcements for application dates, costs and rules.

How Bakrid is celebrated in India

• Eid prayer: The day begins with special congregational prayers in the morning at mosques and Eidgahs. Large prayers are held at places such as Delhi's Jama Masjid.
• Qurbani: Families who can afford it sacrifice an animal, usually a goat or sheep, over the three days of Eid. The meat is traditionally divided into three parts: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor.
• Charity: Sharing with people in need is central to the festival, and many mosques and community groups organise meat and food distribution.
• Food: Biryani, kebabs, korma, sheer khurma and other dishes are cooked and shared, and families visit relatives and friends.

Qurbani in brief. According to Islamic teaching, the sacrifice is made after the Eid prayer, not before, and can continue until sunset on the third day. The animal must be healthy and old enough; for a goat or sheep this is generally about one year. One goat or sheep counts as the sacrifice for one person, while a larger animal can be shared by up to seven people. Many families now pay for Qurbani through mosques or charities, which arrange the sacrifice and distribute the meat to people in need.

Follow the local rules. Laws on which animals may be sacrificed, and where, differ between states, and many cities designate places for sacrifice and require waste to be disposed of properly. Families should follow local laws and municipal guidance, and avoid sacrifice in public streets.

Holidays and planning

• Central government: Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) on Monday 17 May 2027 is a gazetted holiday for central government offices in Delhi. If the moon is sighted differently, the government will announce a change.
• A long weekend: With Eid on a Monday, many people will have a three-day weekend from Saturday 15 to Monday 17 May.
• Travel: Trains to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir get busy before Bakrid. Book early, and allow for a one-day change in the date.
• Next: Buddha Purnima follows on Thursday 20 May 2027.

Eid al-Adha 2027 in the Gulf and abroad

For Indians in the Gulf, Eid al-Adha is expected on Sunday 16 May 2027, with public holidays in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain usually covering several days around Arafah and Eid. Each government announces its own holiday dates closer to the time.

In the UK, US and Canada, mosques follow either local moon sighting or the Saudi date, so check with your local mosque.

Other Islamic dates in 2027

Read our Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr 2027 guide and the full festival calendar for 2027.

Bakrid 2027 is expected to give many families a long weekend in mid-May. Watch for the Dhul Hijjah moon announcement in early May, and plan your travel and leave with a day to spare.