Let’s get mooooving! Cattle breeders in Karachi use a crane to carry animals down from rooftop farm to take them to the city’s livestock market ahead of Eid al-Adha
- While seemingly unusual, such farms are common in Pakistan’s largest city, where agricultural land is scarce
- The animals were being transported ahead of Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest days of the Muslim calendar
- Four-day festival commemorates story of prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah
- On Eid al-Adha, an animal is sacrificed and shared between friends, family and the poor and needy
Taking your cows to market is not always a straight-forward affair – especially for Pakistani farmers who keep their herd on the roof.
While seemingly unusual, such sights are common in crowded Karachi, the country’s largest city, where a lack of agricultural plots and a bulging population mean farmers choose to keep their animals on rooftops.
Thanks to the aid of a crane, the farmers could lower their animals to safety, albeit from the height of a four-storey building.
Slowly does it: A cow is carefully lifted from a rooftop farm in Karachi, Pakistan and lowered to the ground, four storeys below
Using cow-tion: The farmers ensure the animal is carefully strapped and secured as it is lowered towards the ground
The animals were being sent off to the livestock market ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which begins next Sunday.
Considered one of the holiest days of the calendar, the festival marks the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah, but his son was then replaced with a lamb.
In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts.
One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and a third is given to family.
The festival lasts for four days, but some Muslim countries observe a longer holiday.
On the moove: A crowd gathers in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, to watch the animal as it is lifted through the air by crane
Hoof-way there: After maneuvering the animal from the roof, the crane then begins the process of lowering the cow to safety
Keeping a cool herd: The animal appears calm as it makes its way down to the ground, before being transported to market
Touch down: After landing, the cow will be taken off to the livestock market ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha
It’ll be all white: A second animal is strapped to the crane and lowered while the crowd below watches in anticipation
Man on the moo: The seemingly unusual farm is the result of Karachi’s crowded population and lack of agricultural plots
Holy cow: The animal will be transported to market, ahead of Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest festivals in the Muslim calendar
Cow-ful does it: The farmer and his animal make their way steadily towards the waiting crowd four storeys beneath them
Joining the herd: The animal is just metres away from joining others that have already made their descent to the ground
Back down to earth: The animals will be sacrificed as part of a Muslim festival commemorating prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah
Source: Read Full Article