LAHORE - The introduction of new trends to perform sacrificial obligation on Eidul Azha, marked from December 9-11, has changed the traditional way of celebrating the religious festival of Eid. These new trends have altered the centuries old traditions and cultures observed by people. Hiring services of professional companies for buying, slaughtering and distributing the meat of sacrificial animals at the doorsteps of customers was the latest trend, noticed and welcomed by a large number of people. Online purchasing of sacrificial animals through internet by using credit cards also gained popularity. Instead of slaughtering animals at homes, people brought their sacrificial animals to the shops of butchers and got them slaughtered. Collective sacrifices (cow and camel) outnumbered the individual sacrifices (goat and sheep). Another trend witnessed on great magnitude was the buying of sacrificial animals from the City outskirts. All the segments of the society neither stirred any objection on the emergence of these trends nor raised eyebrows over people inclination towards them. However, some individuals fear if the changes remain unchecked, the real spirit of celebrating Eid will peter out while some believe that the new trends should be embraced but the basics of traditions should not be changed. It may be recalled that few days ahead of Eidul Azha, a number of companies started advertising 'Qurbani facility package' by setting up their outlets in different localities. They offered number of facilities including buying, slaughtering and distributing the pieces of meat of sacrificial animals at thresholds of their clients on affordable prices. They also claimed that they provided quality service based on hygienic and Islamic rules. "Moreover, the scheme was more beneficial for those who live abroad while for those households where there are only women and for people who live in certain areas like the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) where publicly Qurbani is banned," they added. Zaheer Khan, a retired government employee, said, "How this new trend can affect the Eid traditions of Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore? Whether it will flourish and reach to other cities or not, only time will tell. Whatever the case, the spirit of Qurbani shall remain intact and the deserving must get due share in meat and Eid's happiness." A sociologist and professor at the Punjab University, Mazhar Ali says, "Lifestyle is changing all over Pakistan and traditions and culture change when lifestyle changes. Now, we have small houses, we do not have servants, therefore, not everyone has the ability to fulfill the requirements that come with Qurbani baggage. Hence, it is not a matter of right, wrong, good or bad, it is simply to adapt to new needs. If one keeps Islamic perspective in view, then there is nothing wrong in that". Where this new service attracted Lahorites, it has also raised some eyebrows. There are people who think that this 'commercialisation' will mar the true spirit of Qurbani. Zaffar Shah, a retired officer is one of them. According to him, "Few years back there was a death in our neighborhood. The family did not bring the dead body to the house and kept it in the cold house of the hospital. Next morning they picked it up from the hospital, took it to graveyard and buried the deceased. Now that this new service has started in the City, people will collect the meat cut and packed, store it directly in their freezers with no distribution. In the next few years it will become a regular fashion and thus, true spirit and tradition of Qurbani will fade." For the past few years, a butcher at Baghbanpura said, people had been bringing animals to my shop on the plea that at home it was very difficult to clean blood and waste. They had, he said, just made it a commercial venture. Fahad Zeshan, a student in the Government College University said "Once we used to visit cattle markets with our elders to buy sacrificial animals." It was an exciting experience to talk to herdsmen, bargain and then purchase. "We also adorned the animals and feed them till the time of Qurbani," he added. All these festivities were marred by these new trends.