China’s Muslims celebrate Ramadan’s end
Print Edition
MILLIONS of Muslims across China yesterday began celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan during which devotees abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.
The start of Eid al-Fitr varies based on the observation of the new moon by local religious authorities. In northwest China’s Qinghai and Gansu provinces, the celebrations began yesterday, while in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region they start today.
“It is auspicious that the Eid al-Fitr falls on the same day as Jumu’ah (Day of Assembly) when everybody goes to the mosque for Friday prayers,” said Ma Yun, a member of the Hui minority and head of the Dongguan mosque in Xining, Qinghai’s capital.
About 300,000 Muslims, most of whom are ethnic Hui, visited the mosque yesterday, some as early as 3am to save a place in the prayer hall.
A queue stretched as far as 5 kilometers outside the mosque, as the voices of Imams came from loudspeakers. Prayers were recited in Arabic and Chinese.
A middle-aged woman handed out coins to children outside.
In neighboring Xinjiang, where more than half the 22 million population are Muslims, business was booming.
Malik Nurlan said his arms were sore after cutting up meat all day. “So many people are buying beef and mutton,” he said.
China has around 20 million Muslims and celebrations were being held nationwide. Thousands went to the Niujie Mosque in downtown Beijing yesterday, and tens of thousands more are expected today when Eid al-Fitr formally falls in the capital, said Chang Chongyu, head of the mosque administration office.
In Ningxia, where most of the Hui minority lives, a five-day holiday begins today during which there will be no charge for highways and most scenic spots.
“I will have a family get-together in the first two days and spend the other days sightseeing with my kids,” said Yang Li, who works in a government department in Yinchuan, the regional capital.
For Ma Jinliang, a cycling enthusiast in Ningxia, this year’s end of Ramadan is special.
“It is remarkable that the final of the 14th Tour of Qinghai Lake Cycling Race coincides with Eid al-Fitr in Ningxia,” said Ma.
The 2,940-kilometer race, the top cycling competition in China with total prize money of US$1 million, traverses Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia, where the majority of China’s Muslims live. It will end in Yinchuan today.
Ye Jianguo, 80, a villager from Maying Township in neighboring Qinghai Province, is impressed by the changes to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in recent years.
“Before 1980, most of us were struggling in poverty,” said Ye, who used to have to cut a piece of brick tea into four parts in order to be able to present them as gifts when visiting relatives and friends.
For this year’s celebration, Ye bought a sheep, eight chickens, 25 kilograms of cooking oil and a full table of milk and drinks.
In Kashgar, the westernmost city of China where sporadic terrorist attacks have dampened tourism, Memtimin Haji hopes for more visitors.
After prayers at the Etgal Mosque, he rushed back to his souvenir shop.
He says that business is good when people gather at the mosque for prayers.
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