Millions of Muslims across China celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, the festival that signals the end of the very important Ramadan fast.
Early on Saturday, more than two million Muslims in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, located in northwest China, donned festive costumes and white skullcaps. They swarmed to local mosques to hear sermons given by imams.
Poor people flanking mosque gates received handfuls of donations from the mosque goers.
Muslims visited each other's homes during the festival. Those who work in government departments or companies would be allowed to take one more day off on Monday.
Young Muslims regard the festival as an opportunity to learn virtues from their parents.
Qiang Zhaoyang, a fourth grader with Jinxing Primary School in Litong District, Wuzhong City, came along to the mosque together with his dad.
"I saw my father extend greetings to older people for the festival and give alms to the poor," said Qiang, "Through his actions, my father has taught me excellent Muslim virtues, such as showing respect for the elderly."
Muslims in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, another major habitat for Muslims in China, and other Chinese provinces also celebrated the festival with a lot of candies and cakes.
During Ramadan, the ninth month of the year in the Moslem calendar, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Children, elderly people and the weak do not have to observe the fast.
China has now 20 million Muslims; about half of them are members of the Hui ethnic group.
Muslims have breakfast in the streets of Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 13, 2007. Muslims in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a major habitat for Muslims in China, celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, the festival that signaled the end of the Ramadan fast.
Muslims gather at a mosque for prayers in Haiyuan County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct.13, 2007. Over two million Muslims in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, the festival that signaled the end of the Ramadan fast.
Muslims attend prayers at a mosque in Haiyuan County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct.13, 2007. Over two million Muslims in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, the festival that signaled the end of the Ramadan fast.
Muslims gather at a mosque in Haiyuan County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct.13, 2007. Over two million Muslims in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, the festival that signaled the end of the Ramadan fast.
Moslem vendors sells food outside a mosque in Shanghai, east China, Oct.13, 2007. Millions of Muslims across China celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, the festival that signaled the end of the Ramadan fast.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2007)
