Fireworks color Saudi National Day

Saudi National Day awakened the Kingdom with thunderous sounds and a burst of colors as the most anticipated fireworks show illuminated the dark sky of the Saudi capital on Monday night.
People from different parts of Riyadh halted as the first sounds of fireworks signaled at exactly 9 p.m., the beginning of the evening celebrations.
Spectators on Jarir Street told Arab News that they enjoyed the display even though it seemed shorter than the promised 15-minute show.
“We enjoyed the fireworks display, but it only lasted for less than eleven minutes in my count,” an Indian spectator said.
Aileen, a Filipino who also witnessed the fireworks, said it reminded her of fruit and flowers.
“The green one reminded me of sliced kiwis when it scattered,” she said. “The others were shaped like dandelions and hibiscus,” she said.
A number of Saudi kids said that they went into Malaz Stadium with their parents and classmates to witness the show.
“We went there wearing green apparel and watched the fireworks. It was very colorful and a bit noisy but we are happy,” a Saudi kid said. “Some of our classmates are even absent today because they stayed up late last night,” he said.
Saudi students in Riyadh celebrated Saudi National Day in their schools even though the event already came to pass. Among them are students from Tiny Tots International School.
According to the school’s principal, they celebrated to show international students the joy of marking Kingdom’s National Day and to provide Saudi students, who had not had the opportunity to attend the festivities, a second chance to relive the event.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Club at Louisiana State University (LSU) in the US also celebrated the event and conveyed their greetings through Arab News.
Ibrahim Al-Sowayigh, president of the Saudi Club at LSU, told Arab News that their club introduced Saudi Arabia in the US using a different gimmick.
Al-Sowayigh said: “This year, we showcased a documentary that was just released by the BBC about Saudi Arabia to around 500 students in our campus to present the country from a perspective other than the typical desert they tend to know.
“We can’t begin to introduce the country, culture or language without them knowing how the older generation stood strong in difficult geographical conditions along with the beauty in some of the surrounding regions.”
Al-Sowayigh said that they also showcased Saudi food and dance in the evening.