- Title: KYRGYZSTAN: Muslims in Kyrgyzstan mark Eid
- Date: 19th August 2012
- Summary: VILLAGE BAYTIK, KYRGYZSTAN (AUGUST 19, 2012) (REUTERS) CAR ON ROAD VILLAGE NEAR MOUNTAINS SIGN READING 'BAYTIK' VARIOUS PEOPLE ENTERING BAYTIK VILLAGE HOME WOMAN POURING TEA AT TABLE VARIOUS PEOPLE PRAYING AND SERVING FOOD AT TABLE VARIOUS PEOPLE EATING AT TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Kyrgyz) BAYTIK VILLAGE RESIDENT SATYN SARNOGOYEV, SAYING: "Our forefathers celebrated Eid. First we read the Koran in honour of those who have died. Then we visit each other, and eat whatever they treat us with. On this day we should visit at least three or seven homes. The rest is up to each individual person." VARIOUS VILLAGERS WALKING ON ROAD BETWEEN HOUSES
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kyrgyzstan
- City:
- Country: Kyrgyzstan
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA9YYQTSTC3ON2DBXJTT62ICLUO
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- Story Text: Muslims in the ex-Soviet Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan celebrate the end of Ramadan with prayers feasts, visits, and traditional songs.
Kyrgyz Muslims across the ex-Soviet Central Asian republic on Sunday (August 19) marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan together with Islam worshippers around the world.
In the country's capital Bishkek thousands of Muslim worshippers gathered on a central city square for prayers marking the end of Ramadan.
"Today all of us Muslims ask Allah for blessings for ourselves, our family, our country. I really hope that Allah will bless us," leader of the Ata-Zhurt party Kamchybek Tashiev told Reuters.
In the village of Baytik, 22 kilometres away from Bishkek, celebrations focused on tradition with celebratory meals featuring fruit and traditional pastries.
"Our forefathers celebrated Eid. First we read the Koran in honour of those who have died. Then we visit each other, and eat whatever they treat us with. On this day we should visit at least three or seven homes. The rest is up to each individual person," village resident Satyn Sarnogoyev told Reuters.
After the meal village children visited neighbouring homes, chanting songs with lyrics such as 'Happy Eid! May your table always be full' , while residents treated them with sweets and pastries in another Kyrgyz Eid tradition.
Ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan is majority Muslim, despite the long years of Bolshevik rule during which the country's government suppressed religious activity. Twenty years after the collapse of the Communism Kyrgyzstan's mosques are full with more then 85 per cent of the country's population professing Islam.
The resurgence of Islam in Kyrgyzstan has recently provoked fears of radicalism.
Over 420 people, mostly minority Uzbeks, were killed in massive brawls by ethnic Kyrgyz in the southern cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad in June two years ago.
After the outbreak of ethnic violence, Kyrgyz authorities have tightened control over religious groups, fearing that the extremist organisations like like Hizb ut-Tahrir, which had made its way into the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union, could gain popularity in the country. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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