Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-07-20
Muslims across China on Saturday celebrated Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
People celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, July 18. (Photo/Xinhua) |
Muslims across China on Saturday celebrated Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
In
Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Na Jinzhu
arrived at the Najiahu Mosque early in the morning with his son and
granddaughters.
"Ramadan
is the most auspicious month in the year," said the 65-year-old man.
"I took my granddaughters here so that they could learn about our
religious traditions from an early age."
Ningxia is
a major region for China's Hui Muslims, who account for 35.7% of the region's
total population, or 2.36 million people.
Li Jianhua,
Communist Party chief of Ningxia, conveyed festive greetings during a gathering
with Muslims in the mosque with a history of 490 years.
A five-day
holiday begins on Saturday in Ningxia. Highways and most scenic spots will be
free of charge during the holiday.
In Beijing,
roads were temporarily closed near the Niujie Mosque in downtown for a
celebration of tens of thousands of Muslims.
Many people
had their photos taken outside the mosque, including a lady surnamed Liu, who
came from neighboring Hebei province especially for the occasion.
"The
atmosphere is more festive here than in our hometown," she said.
In Xinjiang
Uygur autonomous region, senior officials shared iftar with Muslims for the
celebration of Eid al-Fitr on Friday night.
Zhang
Chunxian, Communist Party chief of the region, and regional government chairman
Shohrat Zakir attended the event with more than 200 religious followers.
Ramadan is
a holy and auspicious month for Muslims when they can purify their hearts,
strengthen their minds and contemplate the doctrine, Zhang said.
He said
religious people and non-religious people in Xinjiang live in harmony and amity
with each other, stand together safeguarding peace, unity, justice and dignity,
and worked together to build a beautiful home.
He cited
examples where Muslims offered help to others in need and cared for each other
during this year's Ramadan.
Abduxikar
Rehmutolla, an imam in Urumqi, said "the government helped us renovate the
mosque and resolve some other problems," presenting a Muslim hat to Zhang
to express thanks to the government.
Xinjiang,
with some 24,000 mosques, is home to more than 13 million Muslims.
"I
feel more humble after Ramadan," said Ma Jinfu, 63, who donated 100 yuan
(about US$16) to the Shaanxi Great Mosque attended by Hui Muslims in Urumqi.
Not far
away is the Hantengri Mosque, where Uygur Muslims go to worship.
After
religious ceremonies, Muslims from the Hui ethnic group in white hats and
Uygurs wearing colored hats exchanged blessings while leaving the sites.
Eid al-Fitr
is also a day when Muslims commemorate their ancestors and mourn the dead.
In Oqar
county of the Kirgiz autonomous prefecture of Kizilsu, Muradin Zulpuka
whispered prayers from the Koran in front of his mother's tomb before
scattering handfuls of rice and wheat.
BETWEEN
TRADITION AND MODERNITY
While most
Muslims in China are enjoying lavish feasts for Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, Salam
Muhamet is traveling.
The
photographer from the Kirgiz ethnic group is going to a wedding.
"Muslims
don't eat during the daytime (during Ramadan), so they couldn't hold wedding
ceremonies this month," he said. In China, feasts are an indispensable
part of a wedding ceremony, as are photographs.
This year,
Ramadan lasted from June 18 to July 17.
Muhamet
didn't book any wedding photography jobs the entire month. "I will get
busy as soon as Ramadan is over," he said. In the next week, he has four
wedding ceremonies to attend.
As society
develops, the way people celebrate the festival is changing.
When Ma
Shaoxiong returned home Saturday, he found his grandson video chatting with his
sister, who is in college in Shaanxi and unable to return for Eid al-Fitr.
The boy
showed his sister the dishes on the table. "Wanna taste?" he asked,
making faces to the smart phone.
"It is
an occasion for family reunion," said Ma. "I would have missed my
granddaughter, had there been no video chat."
Patamkhan
Niyaz celebrated Eid al-Fitr in a new house, where children ran in the yard and
adults enjoyed stewed mutton.
"This
house is stronger than our adobe house, and it didn't cost much," she
said.
No comments:
Post a Comment