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 holds immense significance in Islam, which is set to start on Wednesday, June 28.

All government and semi-government offices– with the exception of essential services – will be closed throughout the extended Bayram holiday which will be a total of 6 days this year after the government declared Tuesday an administrative holiday.

Offices will reopen on Monday.

Kurban Bayram will begin on Wednesday morning with prayers at mosques throughout the country.

The Salat-al-Eid or the morning holiday prayer will be broadcast live on BRT from the Hala Sultan Mosque in the capital Lefkoşa.

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 Monday, the July 3.