Ramadhan in China is celebrated with the same passion and divinity just like everywhere else in the world.
Ramadhan and Eid al Fitr are celebrated by Muslim ethnic groups such as Uygur, Hui, Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kirgiz, Sala, Dongxiang and Bonan.
While there might be different groups, Chinese Ramadhan begins with the moon sighting. After the sunset, some people go to different areas where they will have good access to viewing the moon which is an integral part of the celebration. Some prefer valleys with an unobstructed view of the skies. Once the crescent moon is sighted, the month of Ramadhan officially starts.
On the 27th day of Ramadhan, Laylat-ul-Qadr, which is one of the most powerful nights in Ramadhan and is the night when the Holy Quran was sent down to mankind, people in China prepare some delicious iftar meals and send them to the mosque for everyone to share. Some people also invite others to eat iftar meals at home. Those with better economic conditions also hold banquets to entertain guests. After dinner, one can go to the mosque to pray and recite the Holy Quran. Some people prefer preparing some walnuts, melon seeds, peanuts or cooking some lamb bones at home. They will chat while eating and remain sleepless all night. In some areas of China, one can see beautiful decorations with lanterns at night and bring gifts to each other to celebrate the night.
In some areas like Xinjiang, Ningxia and other ethnic minority areas, Eid al Fitr is a holiday. At the end of Ramadhan, before the Salat al Eid, the Zakat al Fitr is donated according to the number of members in the family.
On Eid al Fitr, Muslims get up early, bathe and burn incense. All the adult males go to the mosque to pray and listen to the sermons of the imam. This Fajr is the largest one of the year. During Eid al Fitr, each family prepares traditional food with ethnic flavours and characteristics, such as fried Sanzi, fried Youxiang (both of them made with flour), and boiled jam. At the same time, they also slaughter sheep, chickens, rabbits and make Liangfen (a Chinese traditional food consisting of starch jelly) and vegetable stew. Every household is stocked with abundant festive food, given to relatives, friends, and neighbours. During the festival, people will ignore past frictions, shake hands and make peace. They will sing and dance to the music, there is joy and a festive mood everywhere.
In China, Eid al Fitr has become a traditional cultural festival for all ethnic groups that believe in Islam. With the development of society, Eid al Fitr has also added a lot of new content. In addition to participating in traditional activities, various cultural and recreational activities will also be organised.
In China, fasting by Muslims is a normal religious activity, which is carried out completely according to individual wishes, protected by law, and has never been interfered with by anyone. During Ramadhan, the Chinese government do carry out many measures to ensure a smooth and peaceful fasting period. They are watchful of food hygiene and make efforts to reduce traffic congestion to make sure smooth running of all activities during the month to promote national unity and social harmony.
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