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Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Zuha or Bakrid is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhul-hijja, the twelfth month in the Muslim calendar. The Id-ul-Azha commemorates the ordeal of Prophet Ibrahim, who was commanded at his ripe old age by Allah to sacrifice his only son Ismail, who was dearest to him. Prophet Ibrahim decided to sacrifice the life of his son Ismail in deference to the wishes of Allah. He called Ismail and mentioned to him about his decision. Ismail dutifully agreed to be sacrificed to please Allah. Prophet Ibrahim then blindfolded Ismail and cut off his son's head, only to discover on opening his eyes, that his son was alive and a ram had been sacrificed instead. Since then, a ram or bakra is sacrificed in the name of Allah. The sacrificial meat is distributed and partaken of after the Eid prayers. The Eid is also the time when many Muslims undertake the pilgrimage of Haj to Makkah. The specific day of the Eid marks the culmination of the Haj rituals at the Mina valley, located about 6 Kms from Makkah.

Prophet Muhammad (pubh) was born on the twelfth day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. He was born in 570 C.E. and since the Islamic calendar is 354 days long, the Hijri date is pushed back up to 11 days each year. Muslims celebrate this occasion as Milad-un-Nabi (translated: birth of the prophet) or Mawlid by holding functions and gatherings throughout the month of Rabi Awwal. The origins of the observance of Milad-un-Nabi can be traced back to the Fatimid dynasty in eleventh century Egypt, four centuries after the death of Muhammad, as a Shia ruling class festival. The main thrust of these Milad-un-Nabi gatherings is to remember, observe, discuss and celebrate the advent of the birth and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pubh). On this day Scholars and Poets recites Qasida al-Burda Sharif in Special gatherings, the famous poem by 13th century Arabic Sufi Busiri. In India, a public holiday is declared to mark this occasion. The holy relic of the Prophet are displayed in Jammu and Kashmir state of India at Hazratbal shrine, on the outskirts of Srinagar, after the morning prayers. 'Shab-khawani' night-long prayers are held at the Hazrat bal shrine Which is attended by thousands of people.

It may be noted here that although the birth of Prophet Muhammad was the most significant event in Islamic history, neither the companions of Prophet Muhammad nor the next generation of Muslims observe this event. Furthermore, the Prophet himself neither advised his followers to observe his birthday nor himself observed the birth or death anniversaries of his family and loved ones, including that of his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Thus, Milad-un-Nabi is observed as a festival only in the Indian sub-continent and a few Arab countries like Egypt, while most Islamic countries do not attach any special significance to this day in consonance with the Islamic principles of not celebrating birth or death anniversaries.

Muharram is not a festival in the celebratory sense as it mourns the Karbala tragedy when Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred in the 61st year of the Hijra (AH) corresponding to 680 AD. It is observed on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar. During Muharram, taziyas (bamboo and paper replicas of the martyr's tomb) processions as well as green alams (standards of Hazrat Imam Hussain's army) made of silver, copper and brass, are carried through city streets, accompanied by young men beating their breasts in collective sorrow. On the tenth day, known as Yaum-Al-Ashura, the processions carrying the taziyas and alams terminate in open spaces where the taziyas are buried. Juice or sherbat is freely distributed to everyone. People generally wear black clothes on the Yaum-Al-Ashura.

Shab-e-Qadr or the Lailat-ul-Qadr is a very blessed night which occurs on one of the odd nights during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. It was during this night that the Holy Quran began to be revealed to Prophet Mohammed. These odd nights, therefore, are known as Lailat-ul-Qadr or the Nights of Power, during which night vigils are observed and extra prayers are offered. The precise date of the Lailat-ul-Qadr is said to have been known only to the Prophet and a few of his Companions. The Holy Quran mentions that the Lailat-ul-Qadr is better than one thousand nights.