JEDDAH, 27 November 2003 — The Eid Festival 2003 was launched here on Tuesday night by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed as families packed the Corniche in their thousands to watch the opening fireworks display.

The prince expressed his hope that the festivities, which includes some 35 programs, would attract a large number of citizens and residents as well as foreign visitors.

Speaking to reporters after the inaugural ceremony, the governor thanked Prince Faisal ibn Abdul Majeed, chairman of the organizing committee, and Jeddah Mayor Abdullah Al-Muallami for their efforts in making the festival a success.

“All other governorates of the Makkah region will be provided with more services and projects for the welfare of citizens and residents,” Prince Abdul Majeed said and urged Saudis to work for the overall development and prosperity of the country.

As darkness fell and the heavy skies cleared after the day’s rains, revealing the new moon, the Corniche came alive. Recently enhanced with a myriad of colored lights, strung in trees, shrubs and decorating every lamppost and piece of street furniture for several kilometers, the Corniche revealed itself for the first time in its full glory.

Fawaz Al-Shehri, a student from Taif, was visiting with several friends. “This is great,” he enthused over the pounding music from his car. “After the rain, it has cooled down and is perfect for the picnics and night-time celebration we traditionally enjoy.”

The rain had certainly helped. The streets were clear of dust, plants washed clean and the sky clear. A gentle sea breeze carried tantalizing aromas from barbecues and restaurants along the sea front. Families decamped from their cars and SUVs, sitting on carpets by the roadside or any available piece of grass.

Many of the hotels and apartment blocks had become giant screens for laser displays and were alive with flashing patterns of multicolored lights.

The amusement parks, too, were ablaze with color and movement. The giant Ferris wheels towered over the almost stationary traffic on the roadway, their pulsating lights forming a colorful backdrop for the visitors streaming through the gates.

“It’s full inside and very busy,” said Younis Ali, a ticket collector at the gate of one of the parks. “I think the weather helped because there are many more people here than usual.”

In the traffic jam, there was a real feeling of excited goodwill. Uncharacteristically, not a horn was sounded. Instead, strangers exchanged greetings from open windows, dates and sweetmeats were passed between cars full of excited children and good humor pervaded what, on other days, would have simply been a line of frustrated motorists.

At intervals along the way, families had been tempted to buy fireworks from street vendors, who seemed to be doing great business. In the excitement of the surroundings, safety appeared to be low on the list of priorities, with children holding fireworks that were clearly designed to be stuck in the ground. Mini-rockets whistled over the road and small volcanoes of light burst from the most unexpected places, adding to the maelstrom of enjoyment that gripped the crowds.

Nilifa, a domestic help from Jeddah, sat with several of her friends on the grass of the central reservation amid the traffic. “We have been given a couple of days off,” she said. “It’s really nice to be outside and just sit and enjoy the lights and sense of excitement going on all around. It makes a real change. It’s very special.”