..MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JUNE 6, 2025: Thousands of Muslims gathered across Moscow on Friday, June 6, to perform Eid al-Adha prayers, with crowds spilling out from mosques into nearby streets, parks, and public spaces. Worshippers assembled at major sites including the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, the Memorial Mosque, and the Historical Mosque, as well as in designated open-air prayer areas across the Russian capital. As mosques reached capacity, many performed prayers on roads and sidewalks temporarily closed to traffic to accommodate the overflow. Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj, during which Muslims slaughter goats, sheep and other animals. The Hajj pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith which must be performed by all Muslims if financially viable at least once in their lives. It includes several rituals meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.