Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha around the world

A time for reflection and prayer. 

Muslims around the world celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday on Sept. 12. It is one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar. The holiday marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim (who is also known as Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. In this photo, many Muslims gather in Sanaa, Yemen, to offer prayers of celebration.

While Eid al-Adha is a celebration, it is also a time for reflection and prayer. In this photo, people gather for prayers to mark the holiday at the Central Mosque in Almaty, Kazakhstan. 

A trader pushes his goat past an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha as he takes it to sell ahead of the festivities in Bangalore, India. Muslims mark the holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.

An Afghan guard of honour looks out as other offer prayers at the Hazrat-i-Ali shrine in Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan.

Kids take part in the festivities.

While prayer is an important part of the holiday, many children could be seen taking part in the celebrations worldwide. This Palestinian girl is at a morning prayer gathering in Gaza City. 

In Afghanistan, this boy feeds pigeons at the Hazrat-i-Ali shrine in Mazar-i Sharif.

Outside the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, this Palestinian man plays with a young boy within the crowd celebrating Eid al-Adha.

Some children read the Qur'an to celebrate, like these children at a school in Taguig City in the Philippines. 

Muslims mark Eid al-Adha with many traditions.

Outside of killing animals like sheep, goats and other livestock to give to the poor, there are many other traditions that Muslims take part in. These workers are preparing traditional cookies to sell just before Eid al-Adha in Jerusalem's Old City. They are some of the many delicacies that are brought out to celebrate the holiday.  

Henna tattoos are another custom typically done around Eid al-Adha and other special celebrations. Henna art has been around for thousands of years and is closely associated with Middle Eastern culture.

Henna art isn't the only type of elaborate decoration you'll find. Here, a vendor in Pakistan adds a design on a camel to attract customers to a cattle market on Sept. 1, days before the festivities.

Muslims in Dubai celebrated Eid al-Adha with a spectacular fireworks display on Sept. 11.