Muslims in celebrations to mark end of Ramadan
Source: Xinhua |
August 20, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MUSLIMS across China celebrated Eid al-Fitr yesterday, marking the end of Ramadan, a season of fasting and spiritual reflection.
In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, tens of thousands of Muslims of various ethnic minorities, including Uygur, Hui and Kazakh, could hear imams preaching in the capital of Urumqi as the first rays of sunlight appeared.
The morning prayer service on Eid al-Fitr, the fast-breaking festival, is one of the most important prayer ceremonies Muslims attend each year.
"Ramadan is the most auspicious month of the year, and Eid al-Fitr is like New Year's for us Muslims," said Ma Yucheng.
He came to Khan Tengri Mosque in Urumqi at 6:30am in order to secure a good seat for the ceremony.
After the communal prayer, the 34-year-old, like most of his fellow Muslims, visited a local cemetery to honor his deceased relatives. Muslims sweep and clean the tombs of their relatives and leave food offerings before returning home for family gatherings.
Ma said his family spent the past week amassing all sorts of delicacies, including fried sweets, nuts, fresh fruits, bread and freshly butchered sheep. His family will enjoy a feast to mark the first meal eaten during daylight in a month.
Urumqi's public transport authorities added several temporary bus lines yesterday for the convenience of Muslims traveling to mosques and cemeteries.
The local government declared Eid al-Fitr a three-day public holiday to give residents enough time to attend religious services and visit relatives.
For Li Xuejun, imam at the Hebayan Mosque in Urumqi, the three-day holiday will be busy, as he hopes to visit elderly, disabled and sick Muslims in his community, bringing them gifts and reciting the Quran for them.
"My priority now is to make sure all Muslims in the community enjoy a proper festival," said Li.
The mosque in the old Silk Road city of Kashgar, the largest of its kind in China, saw nearly 5,000 Muslims attend the morning prayer service.
Xinjiang's population exceeds 21 million, with more than half of them Muslims. The region has 24,000 mosques.
During Ramadan, the ninth month of the year on the Muslim calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset, in an effort to show their devotion to their faith. Children, the elderly and the sick do not have to fast.
In Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and other Muslim-populated regions, Muslims donned festive outfits and crowded into local mosques.
The regional government of Ningxia, one of the country's major Muslim-populated regions, has extended the public holiday from Saturday to tomorrow this year, giving Muslims four days to enjoy the festival.
Ningxia is home to about 10 percent of the country's 20 million Muslims.
The Islamic Association of China held a tea party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Vice Premier Hui Liangyu attended.
In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, tens of thousands of Muslims of various ethnic minorities, including Uygur, Hui and Kazakh, could hear imams preaching in the capital of Urumqi as the first rays of sunlight appeared.
The morning prayer service on Eid al-Fitr, the fast-breaking festival, is one of the most important prayer ceremonies Muslims attend each year.
"Ramadan is the most auspicious month of the year, and Eid al-Fitr is like New Year's for us Muslims," said Ma Yucheng.
He came to Khan Tengri Mosque in Urumqi at 6:30am in order to secure a good seat for the ceremony.
After the communal prayer, the 34-year-old, like most of his fellow Muslims, visited a local cemetery to honor his deceased relatives. Muslims sweep and clean the tombs of their relatives and leave food offerings before returning home for family gatherings.
Ma said his family spent the past week amassing all sorts of delicacies, including fried sweets, nuts, fresh fruits, bread and freshly butchered sheep. His family will enjoy a feast to mark the first meal eaten during daylight in a month.
Urumqi's public transport authorities added several temporary bus lines yesterday for the convenience of Muslims traveling to mosques and cemeteries.
The local government declared Eid al-Fitr a three-day public holiday to give residents enough time to attend religious services and visit relatives.
For Li Xuejun, imam at the Hebayan Mosque in Urumqi, the three-day holiday will be busy, as he hopes to visit elderly, disabled and sick Muslims in his community, bringing them gifts and reciting the Quran for them.
"My priority now is to make sure all Muslims in the community enjoy a proper festival," said Li.
The mosque in the old Silk Road city of Kashgar, the largest of its kind in China, saw nearly 5,000 Muslims attend the morning prayer service.
Xinjiang's population exceeds 21 million, with more than half of them Muslims. The region has 24,000 mosques.
During Ramadan, the ninth month of the year on the Muslim calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset, in an effort to show their devotion to their faith. Children, the elderly and the sick do not have to fast.
In Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and other Muslim-populated regions, Muslims donned festive outfits and crowded into local mosques.
The regional government of Ningxia, one of the country's major Muslim-populated regions, has extended the public holiday from Saturday to tomorrow this year, giving Muslims four days to enjoy the festival.
Ningxia is home to about 10 percent of the country's 20 million Muslims.
The Islamic Association of China held a tea party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Vice Premier Hui Liangyu attended.
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