Muslim Workers Celebrate Eid al-Fitr at Taipei Train Station|穆斯林開齋後首逢連假 移工擠滿北車

The equivalent of New Years to Muslims, or Eid al-Fitr , this year, falls on the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend. Many Muslim migrant workers got together in Taipei Main Station to celebrate their religious holiday. However, due to the overlap of travelers for the long weekend, the police had to dispatch additional help, to deal with the unexpectedly large crowd.


Dressed in their traditional clothes, many Muslim migrant workers have come together in the Taipei Train Station to celebrate the annual Eid al-Fitr, their biggest religious holiday.

It's not bad to celebrate the annual festival here. Although we still have to go to work (afterwards).

For Muslims, the Eid al-Fitr is the equivalent of the Lunar New Year for the Chinese speaking communities. It is the single most important festival of the year. During the 30 day Ramadan, all Muslims are not allowed to eat after sun rise, and can only eat after sunset. The community comes together at the end of the Ramadan to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, often by holding a large feast. The Taipei Train Station is the regular location for the Muslim workers to celebrate. However, their festival fell on the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend this year, the celebration has caused a considerable congestion at the station which is one of the major transport hubs. Taipei police dispatched an additional 106 officers to manage traffic. However, the massive influx caused the escalators in the station to temporarily shut down.

When we first entered the station, we had to make our way through the crowd, making it more different than usual. But we certainly understand that they are celebrating their biggest festival of the year.

Starting in 2014, the Taipei Train Station has provided its lobby for the celebration of the Muslim festival. According to the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA), the station saw more than 40,000 Muslim migrant workers who came together to celebrate. The TRA has reminded local travelers to arrive at the train station earlier and to be understanding about the inconvenience they might encounter.