RIYADH: The King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is marking the festive season this year with a parade passing through different cities in the Eastern Province that people can watch from their homes.
As the Eid celebration coincides with a lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, many events on the Saudi calendar have been either canceled or postponed.
“In a time of social distancing, the initiative offers the public comfort, a sense of unity and remote enjoyment from the comfort of their own homes,” an Ithra spokesperson told Arab News.
The celebratory parade features wagons adorned with elements demonstrating Eastern Province’s culture as it passes through neighborhoods in Alkhobar, Dhahran and Dammam during its six-hour duration, from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
The three-day parade started on the first day of Eid, Sunday, in Alkhobar — and will continue on Monday in Dammam and Tuesday in Dhahran, the spokesperson said.
As Saudis are staying at home this Eid, Ithra advises people to view the parade from their windows while the performers cheer and greet them with colorful lights and music.
The program includes a candy wagon with performers — four cheerful mascots with colorful costumes, smiling and waving at the audience.
There will also be an Ardha (traditional Saudi dance) Wagon with eight performers from the Saudi National Ardha group.
The parade includes a Theatre Wagon offering solo, duo and band performances of Sharqi style (Eastern Province music) with a western twist.
The Fisherman Wagon is also part of the diverse program, consisting of five members performing the fishermen arch show atop a carnival float. The show represents an old tradition where locals used boats for pearl diving before the discovery of oil in the Eastern Province. The performers will sing traditional songs for their audience.
The parade’s route passes through Al-Olaya, Al-Aqrabiya, Al-Heza Alakhdar Al-Hizam Thahabi, Corniche, Al-Rawabi, Al-Raka and Al-Jesr neighborhoods in Alkhobar.
In Dammam, the parade covers Al-Fakhriya, Al-Faisaliyah, Al-Jameyen, Abdullah Fouad, Al-Tabeshi, Al-Mazroeya, Al-Shate, Al-Hamra and Al-Mohamdiya.
Residents in Dhahran should stay tuned in the following neighborhoods: Rabiyah, Aramco Camp, Al-Jamaa, Danah, Dawhah North, Dawhah South and Telal Dawha and Qusoor.
For those whose neighborhoods are not covered, Ithra promises a live streaming of the celebratory parade.
Ithra marks Eid Al-Fitr with parade in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province
https://arab.news/jgx4e
Ithra marks Eid Al-Fitr with parade in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province
- Many events on the Saudi calendar have been either canceled or postponed
Saudi traveler drives in search of the aurora
- ‘It felt like a dream,’ says 27-year-old Malik Al-Sultan after seeing the famed Northern Lights
JEDDAH: A Saudi adventurer has driven thousands of kilometers across continents in pursuit of one of the planet’s rarest natural spectacles.
Malik Al-Sultan set out from Riyadh in a modified Toyota Hilux, crossing Europe by road to reach northern Norway, where he witnessed the Northern Lights.
Auroras, or Northern Lights, are colorful and often delicate displays that occur when charged solar particles collide with Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere. In the northern hemisphere, these shifting curtains of light are visible only during certain seasons.
“I love trying new experiences, seeking adventure, and facing challenges,” Al-Sultan told Arab News.
The idea of traveling long distances by car began in 2017 while Al-Sultan was in Switzerland with his family. “I saw a car there with a plate from one of the Gulf countries, and from that moment I was inspired,” he said.
Once his plans were complete, the destination was clear. “When everything was ready, I chose Norway.”
Al-Sultan, 27, is a university graduate and an employee who prefers simple travel. “I try to share my experience without exaggeration or change,” he said. “My goal is to visit as many countries as I can and share what I learn, what people need, and how much it costs.”
His journey took nearly three weeks of driving, with extended stops to explore several countries.
The route passed through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkiye, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and finally Norway.
Along the way, Al-Sultan relied on ferry crossings between France and the UK and between Denmark and Norway, as well as for some travel within Norway.
Driving alone for long distances was challenging. “It was a bit tiring, but I took breaks to rest,” he said. Friends joined him on some stages during the trip.
Al-Sultan made only essential modifications to his 2020 Toyota Hilux 4x4. “I changed the tires and some consumable parts,” he said. For winter conditions in Norway, he used special snow tires with metal studs.
He said the vehicle was tested in difficult conditions — “especially in remote areas, high elevations, changing weather, and long distances.” Among the main challenges were “long distances and difficulty finding accommodation late at night.”
The Northern Lights are best seen in the night sky and far away from city lights. The aurora season usually begins in late September and lasts until late March. Even during this period, witnessing the phenomenon requires luck, and many aurora hunters return home disappointed.
Al-Sultan reached northern Norway near the city of Bodo, where he saw the Northern Lights earlier this month, close to the Rana area.
“It felt like a dream,” he said. “At first, I thought it was clouds or factory smoke reflecting light.”
The lights appeared in green and red, and remained visible for more than half an hour.
Reflecting on the experience, Al-Sultan said the journey taught him patience and self-reliance. “It showed me the value of endurance, trusting my own judgment, and making decisions independently,” he said. “I also discovered how to embrace and even enjoy challenges.”
During the trip, he was warmly hosted by families in different countries. People “were genuinely excited about my journey, and their enthusiasm grew even more when they learned I’m from Saudi Arabia,” he said. “They were also curious about the purpose of my journey and where I was headed.”
Despite the freezing temperatures during the trip, Al-Sultan chose to wear traditional Saudi attire.
“The thobe and shemagh are part of my identity, and I’m proud of them,” he said. “I feel most comfortable wearing them, so it was the natural choice.”
Al-Sultan added that this helped showcase “the true image of the Saudi citizen,” and he hoped he had represented his country positively.
His journey is far from over. “My next goal,” he said, “is to reach Iceland.”
