![A dried-fruit and -vegetable vendor readies himself for coming customers at his stall in Herat August 19. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14109-e__11_-739_416.webp)
![A man in Herat August 19 carries a sheep he bought for the Eid ul Adha sacrifice. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14111-e__25_-739_416.webp)
![Residents buy goods at a market in Herat August 19. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14108-e__5_-739_416.webp)
![Residents visit a market August 19 in Herat. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14110-e__18_-739_416.webp)
![Herat residents gather August 19 to choose sheep for upcoming Eid festivities. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14112-e__26_-739_416.webp)
![A young man in Herat sells sweets August 19 ahead of Eid celebrations. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14113-e__21_-739_416.webp)
![A boy in Herat August 19 sells dried fruits ahead of Eid ul Adha. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14116-e__13_-739_416.webp)
HERAT -- Afghans across the country have begun their preparations for Eid ul Adha, which is scheduled to start Tuesday (August 21).
Customers thronged markets as they chose sheep and other livestock to sacrifice for the holiday.
The holiday is set to coincide with the start of a potential three-month ceasefire with the Taliban offered by President Ashraf Ghani Sunday (August 19).
The Taliban did not immediately respond to Ghani's proposal but said it would release "hundreds" of prisoners to mark Eid ul Adha.
![A young man sells sweets at a market in Herat August 19. [Nasir Salehi]](/cnmi_st/images/2018/08/20/14107-e__7_-739_416.webp)
A young man sells sweets at a market in Herat August 19. [Nasir Salehi]
