Hundreds of thousands have gathered at mosques across the country for one of Islams holiest festivals

Muslims across Russia have held mass prayers to mark Kurban Bayram, also known as Eid al-Adha, one of the religion's biggest holidays. Islam is the second-most widely practiced religion in the country after Orthodox Christianity.

According to Islamic tradition, Kurban Bayram commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The holiday, which coincides with the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, emphasizes charity, mercy, and communal solidarity.

Muslims traditionally mark the occasion with special prayers and the ritual sacrifice of livestock, with meat distributed among relatives, neighbors, and those in need.

An estimated 20 million Muslims live in Russia, in addition to migrants from former Soviet republics in Central Asia who reside in the country and are harder to count.

Some 350,000 people took part in celebrations in Moscow at the Cathedral Mosque and other designated prayer sites on Wednesday.

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Mass prayers were also held in Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg, where some 300,000 believers were in attendance, as well as in predominantly Muslim Republics of Tatarstan and Chechnya.

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Some 25,000 Russian pilgrims are currently in Mecca performing the Hajj pilgrimage, according to Rushan Abbyasov, mufti of the Moscow Region.

President Vladimir Putin offered Russia's Muslim community his best wishes on the occasion, praising its organizations for their role in strengthening family values, charitable work, and supporting Russian servicemen and their families.

(RT.com)