DHAKA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- With the spirit of sacrifice, Bangladeshi Muslims Monday celebrated Eid-al-Adha, one of the two major festivals, in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

They offered special Eid prayers seeking divine blessings, peace and prosperity in tens of thousands of congregations of Eid-al-Adha.

After prayers, people sacrificed animals such as sheep, cows, goats and camels on the sacred day.

Security was beefed up in the country to avoid any untoward situation during the festival, which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismael as an act of obedience to Allah on this day some 4,000 years ago.

The festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of the lunar Islamic calendar after holy Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

It also occurs approximately two months and 10 days after Eid-al-Fitr, another biggest religious festival which marks the end of Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The main congregation in Dhaka was held on Monday morning at the national Eidgah (ground specified for saying Eidprayers) in Dhaka where President Abdul Hamid and ministers, lawmakers and elite of society said their prayers amid tight security.