JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will inaugurate the Eid Al-Fitr Festival in Obhur, north of Jeddah, tomorrow evening. The opening ceremony will include fireworks and an operetta titled “The Pearl of the East.” A series of entertainment programs will be held during the festival.
Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid Al-Fitr today, marking the end of the monthlong fasting in Ramadan. Provincial authorities, municipalities and NGOs have planned a variety of cultural programs, including folk dances and educational contests for children to mark the occasion.
Prince Khaled has instructed the Charitable Warehouse to collect and distribute Zakat Al-Fitr, which is a compulsory donation of staple food to the poor.
Abdul Hay Al-Muhammadi, executive director of the Charitable Warehouse, said his organization was distributing Zakat Al-Fitr for the sixth consecutive year among more than 15,000 poor families. A computer database has been developed for the purpose.
“The Charitable Warehouse takes care of more than 6,000 poor families in Jeddah,” said Al-Muhammadi. “We have six programs for the welfare of orphans and poor families.”
In Riyadh, the municipality has decorated the city with colorful illuminations to give it a festive look. The authorities have lined up a series of events on the first three days of the Eid. Fireworks displays will commence at 9:30 p.m. at ten places in the city.
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Malaz will be the venue of several sporting activities, folk shows and acrobaticss. Local authorities have arranged numerous recreational activities in parks, including the Rawdah Gardens, the Municipal Square in Shifa, the East Riyadh Park and Al-Salam Park in Ateiqa. Professionals at the Old Equestrian Club in Malaz will present a remote-controlled air show.
Eid prayers
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance has arranged more than 450 mosques and 15 open-air grounds to perform Eid prayers in Riyadh.
Many of the city’s mosques can accommodate up to 5,000 people. The larger open-air sites are being laid out to accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers each.
According to a circular issued by the Department of Mosques, prayers will be conducted 10 minutes following sunrise.
Imams and muezzins of all mosques in the Kingdom have been instructed to keep their places tidy and ensure adequate supply of water for the additional rush of worshippers who come with their families to perform the Eid prayers.
Special arrangements have been made for women to perform prayers with children.
Museums
Prince Sultan bin Salman, secretary-general of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has given instructions that the National Museum in Riyadh as well as other museums in different parts of the country be open during Eid Al-Fitr holidays.
Ali Al-Ghabban, deputy secretary-general of SCTA for antiquities and museums, commended the prince’s decision and said it would not only promote domestic tourism but also help Saudis and expatriate residents see the valuable contents in the Kingdom’s museums.
“The SCTA encourages the public to visit local museums and archaeological sites to learn more about the local culture and human heritage,” Al-Ghabban said. He said 15 public museums would receive visitors and holidaymakers from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the Eid holidays.
Saudi Arabia will have moderate weather conditions during the holidays with the Northern and Southern regions having cool climes.
— With input by Md Rasooldeen
