Mobiles take away joy of Eid

The lifestyles have changed from the past when there was cooperation, integration, Eid greetings and mutual visits to each other on the occasion. (SPA)

RIYADH: Small towns and villages are protecting the fragments of the beautiful past with the traditions of Eid among generations despite the changes in life patterns which have altered the features of Eid in cities.
A website talked to elderly people in villages and remote areas to learn the traditions inherited by the children of these villages from their grandparents and forefathers.
They asserted that the mobile messages and communications have taken away the joy of Eid. The lifestyles have changed from the past when there was cooperation, integration, Eid greetings and mutual visits to each other on the occasion.
Hamdi Al-Huzaili, aged 100 years old, said that “despite our lives in the villages in old age, and in the era away from the modern communication means, including television, radio and Internet, our forefathers used some of the basic means to announce the onset of Eid Al-Fitr to the people of the entire area. They would light a fire on top of the mountains so that people could see from farther areas and come to learn that Eid had arrived.”
After that, people started firing from guns to announce that the next day was the first day of the month of Shawwal and the end of the month of Ramadan. “They were doing it after they confirmed that the person who had sighted the moon and informed them was honest, trustworthy and had integrity in his character. After this, people started chanting Takbeer and got ready for the Eid prayer.”
“Each tribe informed another tribe of the news of the arrival of Eid. They interacted with each other and showed enthusiasm toward each other and paid mutual visits. This we do not see due to the arrival of mobile phones.”
Mukhallid Al-Baqmi, 98 years old, said that the residents of the small towns and villages continue the old habits and traditions which they inherited from their forefathers with the passage of time.
This is contrary to the residents of villages. They would go for Eid prayers and after that they greet each other. The people of the locality or the village would have breakfast together.