The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is preparing to celebrate Kurban Bayram, also known as the four-day feast of sacrifice or Eid al-Adha, which is set to start this Sunday, June 16.

All government and semi-government offices– with the exception of essential services – will be closed throughout the four-day Bayram holiday which ends on Wednesday.

Offices will reopen on Thursday.

Kurban Bayram will begin on Sunday morning with alat-al-Eid or the morning holiday prayer at mosques throughout the country at 6:10am.

While state offices and semi government offices will be closed during the Bayram holiday, the police department, municipalities and emergency services will be operational to ensure citizens’ safety.

The state prison will also be open to visitors throughout the Bayram holiday.

On the first day of the Feast of Sacrifice holiday the Presidency and the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus will receive well wishers in the morning.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology department has announced that the weather throughout the Kurban Bayram holiday will be sunny and hot.

The English news department will be closed throughout the Bayram holiday with bulletins and programs resuming on Thursday, the June 20.