Hyderabad – In the lead-up to Eid al-Adha, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, in collaboration with the Serve Needy Voluntary Organisation, joined hands with vegan singer and actor Zahrah S Khan to donate nutritious and flavourful vegan soya biryani to 1000 persons in need in Hyderabad. Zahrah is known for singing the hit song Kusu Kusu from Satyamev Jayate. She also recently lent her voice to a song Rang in Skyforceand a track in Rajkummar Rao’s Bhul Chuk Maaf.
“I feel humbled and grateful to share delicious vegan biryani with 1000 people in Hyderabad for the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Adha,” says Zahrah. “For Eid, many people honour Allah’s mercy by distributing vegan food or clothing, sponsoring children’s education or devoting volunteer time to charity. These acts of kindness benefit both humans and animals.”
All religions call for compassion, and no religion requires meat-eating. Every occasion, whether religious or not, can be celebrated with kindness to animals. Choosing alternative forms of sacrifice not only honours the spirit of Eid but can also mean the difference between life and death for animals.
“It is commanded unto us to eat what is halal and tayyib, which means not only lawful but also pure, wholesome and ethically sourced food,” says PETA India Senior Advocacy Officer, Farhat Ul Ain. “The reality is that today’s meat production violates these values at every step. From the cruelty of factory farms to the disregard for animal welfare up to slaughter, there’s no mercy at any step. We must ask ourselves: can something truly be halal if it causes immense suffering? The answer is ‘no’.”
Each year, thousands of animals, including goats, buffaloes and chickens are killed for sacrifice. Many such animals are crammed into severely crowded trucks in violation of animal transport laws, which routinely causes broken bones, suffocation and suffering. During sacrifice, untrained individuals cut open the animals’ throats or decapitate them in full view of other terrified animals without first stunning them – a mandatory, but often ignored, legal requirement for animals killed in licensed slaughterhouses.
Animals are intelligent, social beings with distinct personalities. Goats are curious problem-solvers who form strong bonds and can remember faces. Buffaloes are known for their emotional depth and strong family ties, often fiercely protecting calves. Chickens can count, worry about the future, and even dream— just like humans.
The consumption of meat and other animal-derived foods also hurts our health and has been conclusively linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer and obesity. A United Nations report concluded that a global shift towards vegan eating is essential to combat the worst effects of climate change.
Each kind choice we make—like sharing a vegan meal—brings us closer to a world where compassion guides faith and daily life. This Eid, let’s give animals a reason to celebrate, too. Eid Mubarak!
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