Bosnians mark Eid high up on a mountain

Some 50 residents of the Bosnian village of Lukomir live their lives and celebrate their holidays far above the turmoil of the modern world, protected by the remoteness of their home atop the Bjelasnica mountain.

The aging villagers cherish their physically demanding but placid lifestyle at 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level. Their regret is that their youth are leaving to embrace the pleasures of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, set in the foothills of "their" mountain.

The Muslim residents of Lukomir live in shingle-roofed stone houses, some of them built nearly 200 years ago. The tend to their cattle and grow their own food.

In the evening before the Eid al-Adha holiday, Lukomir villagers clean their small mosque together to prepare for a joint prayer the next morning. On the holiday they share a big lunch, after helping each other slaughter the sacrificial sheep.

Eid al-Adha celebrates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahiam — Abraham to Jews and Christians — to sacrifice his son.

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

Bosnian Muslim Measles Mejra stands on her doorstep waiting for male family members to return from the mosque to celebrate Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

Bosnian Muslims enjoy lunch as they celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

An elderly Bosnian Muslim man walks to the mosque to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith.(AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

Bosnian Muslim people pray during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, inside of a mosque in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

Bosnian Muslims shake hands as they celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

A Bosnian Muslim cleric prays during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

A Bosnian Muslim woman prepares to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

APTOPIX Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

In this picture taken through a window, a woman leads her cattle during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

A mountain village is illuminated by moonlight as the 50 residents of village prepare to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

An elderly Bosnian Muslim man rests after a lunch to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

A Bosnian Muslim woman knits in front of her house as she waits for family members to arrive for lunch to celebrate Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

APTOPIX Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

Bosnian Muslims sacrifice a sheep to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

Bosnia Eid al Adha Photo Gallery

Bosnian Muslims sacrifice a sheep to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in the remote mountain village of Lukomir 50 kms south of Sarajevo, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Bosnian Muslims will slaughter cattle later, with the beef and meat distributed to the needy for the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

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Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Bosnian Muslim villagers mark Eid atop a mountain, removed from the modern world.

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