Description: Dongxiang nationality (东乡族) is a special minority in Gansu province, mainly gathering in Dongxiang Autonomous County in Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Linxia in Gansu. The population of Dongxiang amounted to 515,000 on the basis of the 6th census in 2010. They call themselves as “Sarta”. Dongixang people are engaged in agriculture and skilled in raising vegetables and fruits.
Language: The speak Dongxiang language and write in Chinese.
Religion: In the 18th century, Islam became the common religion gradually.
Clothing Character: After years of variation, the clothing of Dongxiang becomes similar to Han. The difference embodies on the headwear. Men usually wear white or black hat without brim. Women used to wear long-waist hijab made of silk. Hijab of girls and new-married women are green, middle-age women’s are blue and elderly women’s are white. The women in harness wear a white cap instead of hijab. Dongixang men like to wear bear.
Food Culture: Wheat, highland barley, corn and tomato are basic diet of Dongxiang nationality. Hand-pulled noodles, deep-fried cake and hand-grabbed lamb have a long standing reputation. Dogixang people like to drink tea after three meals.
Festivals: Eid-ul-Fitr (开斋节)---On 1st, October of Islamic Calendar, Moslem hold activities to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. In addition to go to church, men go to the cemetery, mourning for deceased. Women fry all kinds of food and present to relatives. Eid-ul-Fitr lasts for three days.
Eid al-Adha (古尔邦节)---Eid al-Adha is held 72 days after Eid-ul-Fitr. All families butcher cattle and sheep, then share together to celebrate the festival.
Milad al-Nai (圣纪节)---Milad al-Nai is held on 12th or 13th, March in commemoration of Mohammed’s birth and death.
Food Festival (粮食节)---Food festival is held on 11th, March to celebrate the bumper harvest and express good wished.
Custom: Due to the religion, Dongxiang people preserve the habit of bathing. They divided bathing into “Xiaojing” and “Dajing”. “Xiaojing” means takeing a bath everyday to keep hand, foot, mouth, face and nose clean. “Dajing” refers to have a bath once a week to keep the whole body clean. Commonly, they take bath before every festival.
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