Muslims in China Celebrate Eid al-Adha

The Corban Festival, also known as Eid al-Adha, was celebrated by Muslims in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China on Monday. Zheng Songwu reports from Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture.

After finishing prayers in their mosques, people gathered in the square dressed in traditional costumes, ready to celebrate through dancing - an important aspect of the festival. Both men and women danced to traditional Xinjiang music, which conveyed feelings of reunion, gratitude, and happiness.

The Corban Festival holds significant cultural and social importance for the people of Xinjiang, marking a new year similar to how the Han people celebrate the Spring Festival. It has become a celebration not only for Xinjiang's ethnic groups, such as the Uygur, Hui, and Kirgiz, but also for visitors from other parts of China.

Visitors were captivated by the classic dancing and the unique atmosphere in Xinjiang. 

According to GUAN LINGLI, a tourist from Zhejiang Province, the experience was different from other parts of China and was visually delightful. Similarly, WANG XIANGDONG, a tourist from Chongqing, expressed happiness and excitement at being part of the Corban Festival celebration in Hotan Prefecture.

Preparations for the festival involved buying food, snacks, and even livestock such as sheep, as the festival is also known as the feast of sacrifice.

During the festival, locals prepare a variety of foods for family and friends and use the opportunity to visit each other. Ruzigul Abdula, an Uyghur from Hotan Prefecture, mentioned the abundance of food and the warm gatherings during the festival.

In recent years, as tourism in Xinjiang has grown, there has been a positive impact on residents' livelihoods. The local government has supported the redevelopment of old houses into home-stays, such as the one owned by ABLIZ ABDIJELIL, providing an additional source of income for the locals.

The festivals like the Corban Festival in Xinjiang not only serve as a time of celebration but also bring people together, promoting traditions and enhancing the livelihood of the local communities.