Corban Festival brings traditional delights

People from many of ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, including the Uygurs, Kazaks, Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hui, enjoyed the festive atmosphere of the Corban Festival, or Eid al-Adha, from Tuesday to Thursday this week.

People began preparing for the celebration days in advance by cleaning their houses, cooking pastries and buying nuts, candies, jams and other festival foods.

Yahupjan Yalqun, owner of a barbecue restaurant in Kashgar prefecture, got up early to take a shower and put on new clothes to respectfully worship deceased family members.

After people completed their morning prayers at Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, musicians came to play, and people from different ethnic groups danced together on the square in front of the mosque, said Yahupjan, who took his son out to enjoy the festive scenes.

"My son and I filmed the lively moments and posted clips online to share our happiness," he said.

The slaughtering of sheep as a sacrifice is also a key part of the celebration. Yahupjan bought one at a bazaar several days ago and shared the mutton with neighbors.

"It's also a tradition for us to pay a visit to my parents during the festival, and the children were delighted to get lucky money from the elders," he said. "For me, it's a relaxing time for a family reunion."

Ablikin Arkin, 42, a resident of Turpan, said that with the dramatic improvements to the transportation system in Xinjiang, it has become much easier for people to visit relatives living far away during the festival. Also, advanced communication methods enable people to send greetings on smartphones.

"Xinjiang has been attracting businesspeople and tourists from across the country. I would also invite my friends from other parts of China or other ethnic groups to sample the delicious food and snacks at my house and immerse themselves in the festive mood of my family," Ablikin said.