FASTING OR NOT, UYGURS SHOW GUESTS A GOOD TIME

Ramadan tests self-discipline of Muslims in Kashgar, but provides a festival atmosphere for tourists, as and report from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Tdelicious tea that has been brewed by the same family for generations. It is still open during Ramadan, but it is obviously much quieter because many of the regulars need to fast.

Abudulrehman Tash, 60, decided not to fast this year for personal reasons, and carried on the routines of socializing with his friends in the teahouse every Tuesday at 2 pm.

“Fasting, or not, is a personal choice. People in the old town will not judge you for that,” Abudulrehman said.

The teahouse is just a few minutes’ walk from Xinjiang’s biggest mosque, Id Kah. Thousands of Muslims from the old town flood into the mosque for — Friday prayers — at 3:30 pm during Ramadan.

People start to gather around 2 pm and soon long lines are formed. They all wait orderly and quietly to gain entrance to the mosque for prayer.

Although the food market opposite Id Kah may seem quiet in the daytime during Ramadan, it certainly comes to life when daily fasting is over.

People flock to the market, which specializes in traditional Uygur cuisine.

The locals are spoiled for choice, with a vast variety of food including barbecue lamb kebabs and spicy lamb feet. The food market is then turned into a big fast-breaking party around midnight.

Dilhuba Memet, 15, has been helping her mother at a stall selling Uygur-style wonton soup and noodles after school during Ramadan because the business is much busier than usual, she said.

Dilhuba said she is looking forward to the fast-breaking festival, known as Eid al-Fitr. There will be a three-day holiday for people from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, which is home to 51 percent of China’s Muslim population.

“My family will visit our relatives in the old town where people will be in their new clothes and putting on a beautiful display of good food for guests,” she said.

“Like Spring Festival, the fastbreaking festival brings people, especially the family, together.”