How the meat of the sacrificial animal is divided

Kurban-Hayit is celebrated 70 days after Ramadan-Hayit, marking the completion of the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca. In Uzbekistan, the holiday is observed similarly to other Muslim countries: men go to the mosque, perform the festive prayer, and make a sacrifice: typically a ram, less often a cow or another even-toed ungulate.

Immediately after slaughter, the meat is divided into three equal parts: one part is kept for oneself, the second is given to relatives and neighbors, and the third is distributed to those in need. 

Giving alms to the poor—sadaqa (commonly called khudoyi)—is a particularly important element of this day. It is believed that such a charitable act brings protection from misfortune and reward in the afterlife.

Pilgrimage in Samarkand replacing Hajj

Not everyone can afford a trip to Mecca, but the people of Samarkand believe: if on the day of Kurban Hayit you circle the mausoleum of Khoja Abdi Darun seven times, it is equivalent to a pilgrimage to Mecca. Although this is not a canonical rule, the tradition has taken root in the region.

Khoja Abdi Darun is an Islamic preacher and scholar revered as a saint in Samarkand. He is considered one of the first disseminators of Islam in this region.

Plov and other festive dishes

On the eve of Kurban-Hayit, on the day of Arafah, Uzbek families prepare traditional pilaf. It is placed into large ceramic or porcelain bowls (kosa) and decorated with fried pastries—kush-tili and bogursok. Kush-tili (translated as "bird's tongue") indeed resemble tiny beaks, while bogursok is fried in lamb fat and dedicated to deceased relatives.

Plov is not eaten alone: it is always shared with neighbors, and in return, you receive a treat as well. This strengthens family and neighborly bonds and makes the celebration more heartfelt.

Traditions, Nasheeds, and Sweets for Children

In some mahallas, they preserve "succession" - the order of sacrifices: whoever made a sacrifice earlier is the first to slaughter a ram. In other places, the ritual is performed only in the presence of an elderly imam, and the sacrifice itself is accompanied by the recitation of poetic nasheeds praising the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim.

Children are the ones who rejoice the most in this holiday. Only during the days of Kurban-Hayit do special toys and sweets appear in the markets: wooden and tin rattles, tin horns, clay whistles, bright lollipops in the shape of roosters, and nut-honey bars. 

Changing clothes, treats, and the bride's bow

If a couple gets married between Ramadan Hayit and Kurban Hayit, the young kelin (bride) can expect a special ritual during the festive days. The girl's parents bring trays of treats to her new home, and she sets a large, generous table.

But the main event begins a little later: the kelin puts on her wedding veil again and performs a ritual bow (kelin-salom) before the guests—exactly as she did on the wedding day. Before the marriage, the girl prepares many traditional dresses and must manage to wear each one within the first 40 days after the celebration. During Kurban-Hayit, she dons these outfits once more, changing them every few minutes to show the guests the full richness of her dowry.