Eid al-Adha 2016 in pictures: Muslims celebrate holy festival around the world

Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy day today which marks the end of Hajj

Afghan devotees greet each other after offering Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in Kabul on September 12, 2016 (Getty)

Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha, one of the two most important festivals in the faith’s calendar.

The holy day is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice and symbolises Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son’s life as a testament to the strength of his faith. It is distinct from Eid-al-Fitr, or ‘the Lesser Eid’ which marks the end of Ramadan and which was celebrated on 6 July this year.

On Eid al-Adha, people greet each other wishing them 'Eid Mubarak' or a blessed Eid. Many believers will start the day with morning prayers, followed by spending time with relatives, neighbours and friends. Some worshippers will also slaughter an animal such as a sheep or goat to echo Ibrahim’s sacrifice.

A Palestinian girl attends the morning prayer of Eid al-Adha on September 12, 2016 (Getty)

An Afghan guard of honour looks out as others offer Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Hazrat-i- Ali shrine in Mazar-i Sharif on September 12, 2016 (Getty)

An Afghan boy feeds pigeons at the Hazrat-i- Ali shrine in Mazar-i Sharif on September 12, 2016 (Getty)

A Sri Lankan Muslim woman prays during Eid Al-Adha celebrations at the Galle Face esplanade in Colombo on September 12, 2016. (Getty)

Men pray outdoors in Lagos, Nigeria on 12 September (Getty)

Members of an Afghan guard of honour greet each other after offering Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Hazrat-i- Ali shrine in Mazar-i Sharif on September 12, 2016 (Getty)

Afghan devotees greet each other after offering Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in Kabul on September 12, 2016 (Getty)

A celebratory fireworks display on September 11, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Getty)

It is estimated that 1.6 billion people worldwide are Muslim. In the UK, Islam is the second largest religion, with 2.7 million believers, or 4.5 per cent of the total population.