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July 30, 2014

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China鈥檚 Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr

Source: Xinhua | July 30, 2014, Wednesday | Print Edition

MILLIONS of Muslims across China have been celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims attended a mosque on Yinchuan Road in Urumqi, capital of the country’s far-western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region yesterday morning.

“After the one-month fasting, I feel my soul is purified,” said Ma Bensheng, an ethnic Hui, who completed the ritual with others in front of the crowded mosque.

Ma said he wished to be an honest, virtuous and peaceful Muslim and for his family to enjoy happiness and health.

Gheniwar, a Muslim from Shufu County in southern Xinjiang, rode his motorcycle to attend Eid al-Fitr at Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. The mosque is the largest in the country and attracts more than 10,000 Muslims on important religious occasions.

For the past two years, Gheniwar has been working in a shoe factory in China’s eastern coastal region.

With 20 million Muslims in China, the event was also celebrated in other provinces or cities such as Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and Beijing.

Festive atmosphere

In Beijing, thousands of Muslims went to Niujie Mosque on Niujie Street early yesterday for Eid al-Fitr.

A festive atmosphere was felt among the 2.3 million Muslims in northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Ma Hongtian, a 77-year-old ethnic Hui from Harbin, capital of northeastern Heilongjiang Province, took his family of six to Ningxia for Eid al-Fitr.

“There are few Hui people in Harbin. Today, we felt a very good atmosphere. It is good for our children to know our traditional customs and culture,” said Ma.

More than 14,000 Muslims, including nationals from Arab countries working in Ningxia, congregated in Nanguan Mosque in Yinchuan, the regional capital, said Bao Jingui, director of the Nanguan Mosque administration committee.

“Our family has 40 to 50 members and everyone is busy. Eid al-Fitr is a good occasion for a reunion,” said Bao Hui after the service.

Muslims in Ningxia have enjoyed a five-day holiday for the festival.

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