Eidul Azha is just round the corner. As I step into my terrace with my evening cup of tea, I hear happy shouts of children. I peep out of my front door and see a few children of the neighbourhood having the time of their lives, as they race their goats in the lane. A group of those who haven’t yet attained this honour are participating in the celebration by running along, clapping, shouting and urging the goats to run faster.

Some have even managed to sneak twigs from their gardens and are offering it to the goats in the hope that the proud owner will allow him to race the goat for a while.

The most frequently asked questions among the children these days are, “Have you been to the mandi yet?”, “When will your dad get the sacrificial animals” and the most troublesome of all “How much did you (or your father) pay for this goat (or cow)?

Eidul Azha is steadily becoming a competition, a rat race to acquire the largest or most expensive animal in the neighbourhood, whether it is a goat, a sheep or a cow. Those of us who have paid a hefty sum for their animals display them around proudly, grabbing every opportunity to mention the price. The people who are regular in performing the yearly sacrifice but cannot afford very expensive animals, feel a bit let down. Although they are sure to join the daily ritual of walking and racing of their goats, the feeling of embarrassment is written loud and clear on their innocent faces.

Is this display and competition the real spirit of this festival? Let us remind ourselves about the true spirit of Eidul Azha. This great Muslim Festival, which is second only to Eidul Fitr, teaches us great lessons every year. It is not about boasting how much we can spend or showing off how rich we are. On the contrary, it teaches the lessons of obedience, sacrifice, compassions and how we should share our blessings with those who are not as privileged as we are!

Last year, just to check if the meat seller in my locality was charging me the correct rates of beef and mutton, I asked my maid at what rate she was buying these commodities. She looked at me with a rueful smile, “How do I know baji? It is difficult to manage daal roti (lentil and bread) for my big family, I can’t afford to buy meat. We have beef and mutton only at Baqr eid when people like you give us some, or sometimes when a baji like you gives away her leftovers.”

My maid’s reply taught me a disturbing lesson. We have more than one dish at our table each day and one of them is sure to be of meat, whether it is mutton, chicken or beef. But if I look around with a compassionate heart, I feel that I have more of everything than what I really need. And I always took this blessing for granted.

Dear friends, this year when your parents are distributing the meat from the sacrificed animals, urge them to give away bigger packets to the needy. Instead of stuffing our fridges and freezers with the meat, let us think about those who have not been able to afford sacrificing an animal and will so happily and thankfully like to receive some meat from others. These people cannot afford to buy meat otherwise the rest of the year too. Let them have a hearty feast with their families and enjoy the meat for a few days. If possible, make some extra place in your freezers so that you can store small packets for your household helpers, which they can take away after a few days.

Festivals are happy occasions meant to bring people together. They revive in us the spirit of sharing and on Eidul Azha we are taught to do this by sharing the meat from the sacrificial animals so that there is a feast in every home, regardless of status. And you can share your extra clothes, books, toys and other items of daily use which are more than your requirements. Spread happiness among the less fortunate by sharing your blessings with them because, in the end, the spirit of sacrifice, compassion and love for humanity counts, not the size, health or price of the goat, sheep or cow we sacrifice on Eidul Azha!

Two of the main lessons we learn from this occasion are obedience and sacrifice.

Obedience: Most of my young friends know that the sacrifice of animals Muslims make from the 10th to 12th of ZilHaj every year is to commemorate the great sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim A.S. He dreamt that he was sacrificing his only son Ismail as Allah had ordained him to do so.

Both father and son had no second thoughts in complying with this Divine Order, but Allah in His infinite Mercy, replaced the little boy with a ram. The lesson we learn from this great sacrifice is universal and applicable to all mankind. We should obey the Almighty without arguing or complaining. Our parents and our teachers are our greatest well-wishers in this world. Often young minds cannot contemplate what they ask or expect from us, but obeying without complaining always brings good results for us.

Sacrifice: Children are the most valuable assets of every parent, who leave no stone unturned to keep them away from all harm. Prophet Ibrahim’s A.S readiness to sacrifice his son on Allah’s command teaches us an important lesson. When we observe Eidul Azha and sacrifice animals, we part with a good amount of our money, but we make this sacrifice to help the people who are not as privileged as we are.

Did you know?

• A cow chews her cud (regurgitated, partially digested food) for up to eight hours each day and at least 50 times per minute.

• You can lead a cow upstairs, but not downstairs. Cows’ knees can’t bend properly to walk downstairs.

• According to the Guinness World Records, the world’s smallest cow named Swallow, was from the West Yorkshire region of northern England measuring roughly 33 inches (84 centimetres) from hind to foot; it was a Dexter cow, an Irish breed known for its diminutive stature, but small even by Dexter standards. The record was published in Guinness World Records 2011.

• While Blosom, the world’s tallest cow having a staggering height of 190 cm (74.8 in) — over 6ft tall — was first recognised as the tallest cow living after Guinness World Records visited Blosom and her owner at her home in Orangeville, Illinois, earlier this year. But sadly, Blosom passed away recently after sustaining an irreparable leg injury. Following further research, Guinness World Records confirms that Blosom is now recognised as the title holder for Tallest Cow ever. Blosom will feature in the upcoming Guinness World Records 2016 Edition.

• And when it comes to goats, you will be amazed to know that goats were one of the first animals to be tamed by humans and were being herded 9,000 years ago.

• Goats are intelligent domestic animals which can even be taught their name and they will come when called.

• The eyes of goats have an unusual shape, which is shared by sheep and several other ungulates, it gives them a fuller range of vision than humans and other animals with round pupils. Goats can see 320-340 degrees in their periphery — everything except for what’s directly behind them — which is useful in avoiding predators. The drawback to the flattened pupil is that goats are unable to look up or down without moving their heads.

• According to an Ethiopian legend, goats discovered coffee when a goat herder found his flock frolicking with extra verve after consuming the red berries of the coffee shrub. The plant had the same energising effect on the herder himself — and with that, the tradition of drinking coffee was (supposedly) born.

• Pygmy goats originated from Cameroon Valley, West Africa, are the small domestic breed of goat, and are usually raised as backyard pets, rather than dairy product or goat meat purposes. A female goat weighs 23 to 34 kg, while the male goat 27 to 39kg. Their heights range from 16 to 23 inches tall.