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Beijing: Thousands of
Muslims in northwest China's Qinghai province flocked to mosques
Saturday to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and the end of a month of
fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ma Guoqing, a 57-year-old villager in Taerwan village, got up at 6
a.m., washed himself and cleaned his house for Eid, Xinhua
reported. He donned a new outfit and joined 4,200 people at the
local mosque to welcome the day.
Qinghai celebrated the festival Saturday, while other
Muslim-populated regions, including Xinjiang and Ningxia, will
celebrate Sunday.
"This is one of the most sacred and honourable festivals for
Muslims," said Ma, before taking off his shoes and laying a rug on
the floor to pray to Allah.
More than 150,000 Muslims gathered at the Dongguan mosque in the
provincial capital of Xining to hear imams preach. Rugs brought by
worshippers stretched for miles along the streets outside the
mosque.
The festival lasts for three days. People also visit relatives and
friends and share delicacies prepared at least a week before the
holiday.
Yang Zhonghui, a 37-year-old villager from Taerwan, remembered
that his family could only buy about 1 kg meat and a little
dessert to offer to guests during the festival 20 years back.
But, with improvements in the quality of life, he can not only
serve his guests decent food, but also make efforts to realise his
dream of going for pilgrimage to Makkah.
According to statistics, around 14,000 Chinese pilgrims visited
Makkah last year.
Saudi Aarabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt,
Yemen, Libya and the United Arab Emirates announced on Friday that
the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations would be marked in the Arab states on
Sunday. The decision was taken after the new moon could be seen on
Friday.
Meanwhile, Indian Muslims are also
preparing them up to sight the new moon today. The new moon will
decide weather Indian Muslims will celebrate Eid tomorrow or day
after.
Though major part of India started
Ramadan from July 21, some parts including Mumbai and part of
Maharashtra began fasting a day later from July 22.
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