KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: The Eid celebrations in Kuwait helped stoke up sagging spirits amid recession and swine-flu scare, say citizens and expatriates, who were speaking to the Arab Times Tuesday.
With Eid moving up the calendar this year, the faithful performed the special morning prayers on Sunday in more pleasant weather than during the previous years, when it was winter in Kuwait. “We didn’t have to be dressed in warm, thick clothes, and were able to listen to the sermons in a more relaxed manner,” said Mujib, an employee at Australian College of Kuwait (ACK).
There were many prayer congregations organized at different locations in Kuwait, mostly on open grounds, where people turned out in large numbers. Various expatriate organizations conducted prayers holding sermons in their languages for the benefit of their community members. After the prayers, the faithful embraced one another, exchanging greetings in customary fashion.

The sermons mostly focused on the importance of adhering to the values of Ramadan and continuing the good deeds performed during the month for the rest of the year.
Citizens who spoke to the Arab Times said that not many people have used the Eid holidays to travel abroad due to swine flu and the economic downturn. “The various restaurants, leisure and entertainment outlets in Kuwait have been full over the last couple of days. The traffic as expected was choked at many places, and moving about from one point to another was difficult. But that’s part and parcel of all celebrations in Kuwait.”

Fireworks lit up the night sky as part of the celebrations. Rockets shot into the sky to create colorful constellations in an otherwise starless sky. Some created mammoth showers of sparkles with multiple explosions. Some fireworks drew attention for their interesting sounds that were different from the conventional ear-deafening bangs.
The beaches were full, and families were seen spending their evenings on the beaches with bonfires and grills. Children pranced about bursting crackers and wetting their feet in the sea.
Theme parks were also in great demand and several special offers by way of rides and other entertainment activities were designed by the parks to attract visitors. Shopping was in full swing during Eid and all the important malls saw capacity turnouts and several people had to leave for lack of parking space.
A lot of people also visit various graveyards all over the country to pray for the departed souls of their loved ones.

Also:
KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah performed Eid prayers at Kuwait’s Grand Mosque on Sunday which was the first day of the Islamic festive occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
The Amir was joined by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Mohammad Al-Kharafi, Head of the National Guard Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, acting Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, sheikhs and leading state officials.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a phone call Sunday from Saudi Arabia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

Sheikh Nawaf wished that Almighty Allah would continue to bestow his blessings on Saudi Arabia and its people in addition to the Arab and Muslim nations during the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
The Saudi official expressed similar sentiments to Sheikh Nawaf.
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday expressed his gratitude and praise to citizens in and out of Kuwait as well as residents who delivered their Eid greetings face-to-face, by cable or by phone.
“We ask of God Almighty on this occasion to shower us with blessings and good health and to keep our dear nation’s path under the light of good and prosperity behind the rule of our leader and head of our civilization His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,” he added.

By Valiya S. Sajjad
Arab Times Staff