EID IN SKARDU, PAKISTAN Experience the magic of Eid in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. From vibrant celebrations and traditional food to breathtaking mountain scenery, Skardu comes alive during this special time of year! Join me as I explore the streets, meet local families, witness the festive atmosphere, and discover how the people of Baltistan celebrate Eid surrounded by the mighty Karakoram Mountains. Thank you to my dear friend Asif for kindly inviting me to spend this special Eid with him and his family: https://www.instagram.com/asif_ashoor/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/itsjaypalfrey Preorder my book: https://www.jaypalfrey.com Join me on an expedition: https://beyondborderexpeditions.com Support my travels: buymeacoffee.com/jaypalfrey #Eid #Skardu #Pakistan #GilgitBaltistan #EidInPakistan #TravelPakistan #NorthernPakistan #SkarduValley #TravelVlog #AdventureTravel #MountainLife #ExplorePakistan
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Have you ever wondered what Eid is like high up in the mountains of Baltistan
0:03
Well, I did. So today I've come to Skardu, a breathtaking town surrounded by some of the highest peaks on earth
0:09
to experience Eid from a completely different perspective. From the morning prayers to family gatherings and local traditions
0:15
I want to understand how people here celebrate one of the most important days of the year
0:20
So, for the next 24 hours, I'll be immersing myself in local life, meeting the people who call these mountains home
0:25
and discovering what Eid means here in the heart of the Karakorum. This is Eid in Skardu
0:58
We've got some friends arriving. I'm spending the day also with Asif. Asif is one of the most
1:04
incredible guys I've ever met so I feel very very blessed to be here. It's 6 15 in the morning
1:10
inshallah now I'm gonna head for Salah. We're gonna head to an area where thousands and thousands
1:16
of people will come together to all pray together so I'm very excited for this. Inshallah the plan
1:21
after Salah will be to go and do the Karbani. Karbani stands for sacrifice. I'll explain
1:28
more about this later in the video. I'm very very tired right now. It's extremely early
1:32
but alhamdulillah let's go for Salah and I can show you the beautiful environment that
1:38
we'll be praying in and then inshallah we'll go for Karabani. As the sun rises over the mountains of Skardu, thousands of people begin making their way
1:47
to Eid prayer. For Muslims around the world, this prayer marks the start of Eid celebrations
1:51
bringing communities together in a moment of gratitude, reflection and unity. Here in
1:56
In Baltic land, surrounded by some of the highest peaks on earth, the atmosphere feels especially unique
2:01
Families gather, friends reconnect, and for a few moments, the entire town comes together to celebrate
2:07
This is how Eid begins here in Skardu, and it is a really, really special atmosphere for me to be witnessing
2:26
for Allah Akbar La ilaha illa Allah
2:44
Wallahu Akbar, Allah Akbar, And with Allah with the peace
2:57
Allah is the best. Allah is the best. From the world of peace
3:09
Standing here and watching thousands of people come together is genuinely moving
3:16
In a world that can often feel divided, moments like this remind you of the power of community
3:20
old and young friends and strangers all gathering in the same place
3:24
sharing the same celebration and the same sense of belonging there's something special about seeing it here though in Skado
3:30
surrounded by these mountains for a few hours nothing else seems to matter
3:33
people are smiling embracing one another and celebrating together it's a simple reminder that some of the life's most meaningful moments
3:40
are the ones we share Before we do the karabani, I want to take you back to yesterday where we went to the local
4:02
market to pick up the karabani, the sacrifice. We went in to this beautiful market and I picked out the animal that we will be eating
4:12
It was a really incredible experience. I think there's a lot of stigma and ideas about where the animal comes from
4:19
You know, people don't really understand where meat comes from. They kind of just go to the supermarket and buy it
4:24
They don't really fully understand where it actually comes from. So I want to show you exactly how we pick out the animal
4:30
what kind of things we look for in order to pick out the correct animal
4:34
And let's go. So tomorrow is Eid and I'm going to be, alhamdulillah
4:39
spinning it up here in the mountains here in Skaru, in Baltistan, here in Pakistan
4:45
What do we need to do? right now we've just arrived to a market selling karbani karbani means sacrifice for eid a sacrifice
4:53
is made of livestock and it's shared all between the people around us whether that's people with
5:00
low income high income all the meat is shared between people that we know giving to the less
5:05
fortunate and sharing so we've just arrived to the current market and we're going to pick out
5:10
our krabani for tomorrow inshaallah okay so we have a budget of around 40 000 rupees what he gonna do this he going to bring me all of the options that we have We had to choose between a goat or a
5:21
sheep and we get to share it with everyone insha Allah. So let's pick which one is the best option
5:27
So when you're picking an animal usually there's different ways you can check the best option
5:32
You said the teeth right? Teeth, horns and strength. Did you check the teeth? You can see here
5:45
Our teeth are very good. Okay. Like this. Okay, teeth perfect. This is good
5:54
This one is too big, no? Can I see your teeth? this one is our final option this one is being grazing at a high altitude so
6:16
choosing an animal for kurbani isn't something that is taken lightly the traditional commemorates
6:23
the willingness of prophet ibrahim peace be upon him to sacrifice what was most precious to him
6:28
as an act of obedience to God. Today, Muslims honor that sacrifice through Qurbani, making the
6:34
choice of an animal an important part of the process. That's why families take the time
6:39
The animal must meet specific conditions, be healthy, free from defects, and an appropriate age
6:44
It's not simply about finding the cheapest option, but selecting an animal that is suitable for an
6:49
act of worship. Walking through the market, you can see how seriously people take this responsibility
6:54
Every discussion, every inspection, and every decision reflects a tradition that has been
6:58
passed down through generations and remains deeply meaningful to families here in Skardu
7:04
As the Eid prayer comes to an end the streets of Skardu begin to fill with families making their way
7:08
home. After a morning spent in prayer and reflection it's time to gather around the
7:12
breakfast table sharing food and celebrating together with loved ones. These children in the
7:18
the tree in the fresh mulberry tree fresh mulberry from Scartu you got it let me see wow
7:32
Wow But for many families this day is only just beginning Right now we heading to Asif family home where preparations are underway for Karbani one of the most important traditions of Eid al What makes this tradition especially meaningful is what happens afterwards
8:01
The Meid is typically divided into three parts, one for the family, one for the relatives
8:05
and friends and one for those in need. It's a tradition built around sharing
8:10
The idea is that everyone should be able to take part in the celebrations regardless of their circumstances and as families gather for lunch later in the day, it's a powerful
8:18
reminder that Eid isn't just about coming together with the people you know, it's about
8:22
making sure others are included also. As the day begins to wind down, we're leaving the town behind
8:26
and heading straight into the mountains. Together, we're making the hike up to Ringchan Rock
8:31
one of Skadiu's most famous viewpoints. After a day filled with prayer, family gatherings and
8:35
celebration, it feels like the perfect way to end Eid. The climb is not easy, but that's part of the
8:40
experience. As we made our way up higher, we're sharing stories, laughing together and reflecting
8:45
on everything that's happened throughout the day. By the time we reach the top, the sun is beginning
8:49
to set over the Karakoram. It's one of those moments that make you stop, take it all in and
8:53
appreciate where you are. Alhamdulillah, 30 minutes later we have arrived to 2710 meters high
9:02
350 meters higher than my mistake just over here. The view is incredible
9:15
When I began the day this morning, I was curious to see how they celebrated Eid high up here
9:30
in the Karakorum in Skardu. And I spent the day with local families
9:35
I witnessed the Eid prayer here in Skardu, 20,000 people. I witnessed the tradition of Karabani
9:42
and I got to experience this day with close friends and us this beautiful family mashallah
9:49
it was one of the most special experiences of my life and I feel so grateful spending it up here
9:54
higher in the mountains was beautiful but you know I'm not even thinking about the mountains
9:59
right now because I just spent the day feeling so blessed being able to spend the time with
10:05
my friends and us this incredible family and it's been such an honor and a blessing and
10:11
I want to thank Asif for his kindness, for his generosity and for allowing me to be a part of such a special day with his family and a special day up here in the mountains
10:24
That was the celebration of Eid here in Skadu, Baltistan, Pakistan. See you in the next video
#Tourist Destinations


