Entertainment shows brighten up Eid festivities

RIYADH/MADINAH: Celebrations were in full swing at the official Eid Al-Fitr festival at the Qasr Al-Hukm plaza in the capital on Sunday night.
Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh region acting governor, along with various princes and officials attended the event organized by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
“The High Commission put in a lot of efforts to ensure the success of this year's Eid Al-Fitr activities,” said Sam'an Al-Ani, director of the Qasr Al-Hukm district theater.
Activities include folk art, folk dance and games for children. A comedy group and folk bands from Jazan, Makkah and Asir are giving nine performances every evening during the three-day festival.
“With a seating capacity of 10,000 people, the Qasr Al-Hukm Theater was designed to accommodate as many people as possible,” said Al-Ani, adding the theater is always full.
“There is a specific area for women where they can watch the live performances on large screens and certain portions of the celebrations are being broadcast live on national TV,” Al-Ani said.
Elsewhere in Riyadh, young people celebrated by dancing in the streets while others came out to enjoy spectacular fireworks in the skies above various locations of the city on Sunday night.
Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam had earlier designated 40 locations to host celebrations in the capital.
Celebrations continue until early Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the holy city of Madinah celebrated Eid Al-Fitr on Sunday hosting a variety of educational and entertaining programs at the Prince Muhammad Sports City.
Mayor Khaled Taher congratulated Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed as well as the people of Madinah on the occasion of Eid and wished greater progress and prosperity for the Ummah.
The Madinah Mayoralty prepared 14 locations for Eid celebrations and provided all necessary facilities. “A variety of programs for Eid were planned after consulting district chiefs, and as many as 550 officials were involved,” he said.”
“This year, municipalities in Fareesh, Mandasa, Malaileh and Suwaidra organized special Eid programs, and we hope municipalities in other cities will join the Eid festivities next year,” Taher said.
“We have plans to include other important members of our society like orphans, widows and people with disabilities in future Eid festivities,” Taher said.
The program began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an. Mukhallad Al-Suhaimi recited poetry and a Syrian student shared a poem entitled “Eid between pain and hope.”
A comedy skit and a sword dance were also part of the night’s entertainment.
The mayor honored event sponsors with a memento.
Eid festivities in other parts of Madinah attracted a large number of families and special programs for children were held in Aswaf Gardens in Uhd.
Hamza Sabiya, Uhd municipal chairman, said his officials made extra efforts to present educational and entertainment programs, bringing smiles to the faces of the young attendees.