Celebrating Ancient Moslem Festival -- The impressive sight as thousands of Moslems joined in prayer in the centre of Calcutta, India in celebration of Bakr-Id. The festival commemorates the ordeal of Ismail and the miraculous way in which at the last moment providence came to his rescue. Abraham, called Khalilulla, or the friend of god, was put to a terrible test when he was asked to sacrifice what was dearest to him, and he decided to offer the life of his beloved son Ismail. As he was about to apply the knife to Ismail's throat with his eyes blind folded it was revealed to him that this was meant only to test his faith and that he would on opening his eyes, find a ram which he should sacrifice in the name of Allah. September 18, 1939. (Photo by Keystone).