The spirit of festivity remained high in the Saudi capital on the second day of Eid Al-Adha with people performing the sacrificial ritual.

Many thronged to the parks, fairgrounds, malls and the National Museum in Riyadh to enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

Friends and relatives having completed the ritual of sacrifice on Tuesday, exchanged visits to celebrate the Eid Al-Adha.

Obaid Ali, a local, said that generally people prefer to perform the ritual on the first day of the feast of sacrifice but it can be done on all three days.

According to Ali, sheep prices will witness a decrease in prices Wednesday and Thursday, which is the reason why many people prefer to perform the sacrificial ritual on the second and third days of the Eid holiday. He also called upon the prosperous to show generosity toward the poor so that they could celebrate the festivity with equal fervor. “We should be kind to the underprivileged in our community and extend our generosity to them so that they can also enjoy the festivity,” he observed.

Mohammed Shameem, who works with Hala printing company as a silk screen technician said, “I visited my relatives today to exchange greetings as I couldn’t find time yesterday.” People usually visit each others’ homes on the second day to exchange greetings, he added.

Shameem said, “The SCTA (Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities) had announced that museums across the Kingdom will be open during the Eid Al-Adha holidays to promote the country’s rich heritage and culture. So many of my friends have gone to the historical site of Al-Dirriyah located on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh.

He said that, “It was the original home of the Saudi royal family and served as the capital for the first Saudi rulers.”

The Turaif district in Dirriyah was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

Several families also visited the newly opened King Abdullah Park in Malaz district, a landmark park offering laser lights and a dancing fountain show. It is an eloquent testimony to the paradigm shift taking place in the urban structure of the Saudi capital which is striving to provide the public with leisure spaces.

Malls were also open with special offers. Although most of the roads had a deserted look due to the week-long vacation, lighting arrangements have been made along the city’s lifeline, Khurais road and many other places were decorated with glittering lights to mark the auspicious occasion.

Muhammad Bin Fahad, a student said that he was going to Abha with his friends.

He said people often leave for various tourist destinations in the Kingdom during the Eid Al-Adha holiday. This vacation however, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has launched a campaign to attract domestic tourism and entice the public to stay in the Kingdom.