Countryside farmers don role of butchers in Hyderabad for Bakrid

Hyderabad: Holding butcher blocks on their shoulders, thousands of farmers from adjoining districts arrive in Hyderabad just before the festival of sacrifice, Bakrid. Muslims in the city look out for butchers for sacrificing the sheep for the festival. Due to shortage of butchers in the city, thousands of farmers arrive from Medak, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy and Mahabubnagar districts.

“We earn in three days what we usually earn in a month,” said Ch Janardhan, a farmer from Aloor village. “Thousands of butchers may arrive but getting a butcher is not easy during Bakrid as most of them charge very high for their services,” said Mohammed Saif, a resident of Tolichowki. Butchers charge anywhere between Rs 1,000 to 2,000 for sacrificing and processing meat. “If lucky, we do 5-10 slaughters in a day,” said a butcher, Sandeep Naik from Mahbubnagar district.

“Part-time butchers arrive in the city before the festival and stand near sheep vendors to make a deal,” said a sheep vendor, Yakub. “Experienced city butchers run their shop and are not available for private services, while everyone in the countryside knows slaughtering,” said a butcher. “Many teenagers come along with friends and learn a trick or two. They also roast the meat and set up stalls,” added sheep vendor, Yakub.