The main celebration of Eid al-Adha, known as Kurban Bayram in Russia, began early in the morning at Moscow’s Cathedral Mosque. Muslim worshipers gathered outside of mosques in the pre-dawn hours. Since there was limited space in the prayer halls, thousands poured out onto the streets. Ravil Gainutdin, the Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia congratulated Muslims on the occasion.
Public prayers had finished by noon, and the huge crowds dispersed. Most of them are immigrants from the former Soviet republics and their number is increasing every year. Four years ago, Moscow authorities banned the slaughter of sacrificial animals in the streets of the capital during the feast. But in 2011, Muslims in the Russian capital could choose between properly packaged meat of a sacrificed animal or attending the ritual in a slaughter house. Prayers in congregation started early in the morning and more than 170,000 Muslims took part in the Eid al Adha ceremonies only in Moscow. The city's mosques couldn't accommodate all the worshipers, and the majority had to pray in the streets.