Ithra Celebrates Eid Al Fitr with Never-Before-Seen Cultural Parade
Across Eastern Province Neighborhoods
As part of its Eid Al Fitr celebrations, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) launched a roaming cultural parade through the neighborhoods of the Eastern Province. A first-time initiative, the seven-hour Ithra parade will feature decorated wagons making their way through different neighborhoods in Khobar, Dhahran, Dammam, Sihat and Qatif over the course of four days from May 24th-27th, 2020.
The parade consists of four wagons which traveled across more than 34 neighborhoods in the Eastern Province in a bid to bring the homebound public, neighborhood celebrations which can be enjoyed from the comfort of their own homes in times of social distancing. As Ithra stands in solidarity with national efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, the parade aims to boost public moral amid these times of public closure as well as connect and engage the public through art and culture during Eid.
Each parade wagon featured different celebratory themes and traditions. The first wagon, the “Ardha Wagon”, showcased the traditional Saudi ardha dance. The second wagon, the “Candy Wagon”, hosted colorful mascots waving to crowds at home. The third wagon, the “Theater Wagon”, displayed a variety of musical performances by local musicians. And the fourth wagon, the “Fisherman Wagon”, symbolic of prominent Eastern Province culture seafaring traditions, featured maritime-themed music.
Ithra is a creative and cultural destination aiming to ignite cultural curiosity, explore knowledge and inspire creativity through the power of ideas, imagination and innovation. Ithra champions Saudi culture on the world stage and delivers contemporary, historical and traditional global culture experiences to local audiences.
Day 1
As the first day of Eid Al Fitr celebrations were commemorated safely at home, the Ithra parade spread joy in the hearts of neighborhoods and filled the atmosphere with happiness. They passed by Khobar; they roamed the neighborhoods of Al Olaya, Al Hizam Al Thahabi and Al Hizam Al Akhthar, Corniche, Al Aqrabiyah, Al Rawabi, Al Rakkah .
Day 2
The second day of Ithra’s Eid Parade enlivened the residents of Dammam neighborhoods with families and friends enjoying the new kind of celebrations of Eid. Ithra’s parade joyfully celebrated Eid with the neighbors of Al-Fakhriya, Al-Faisaliah, and Al-Jamiyin, and extended to the residents of Abdullah Fouad, Al-Tubayshi, Al-Mazruiyah, Al-Shati and Al-Hamra’a neighborhoods.
Day 3
The third day of Eid celebrations toured Dhahran and its neighborhoods; celebrating Eid and spreading the joyful through Aramco residents, Al Rabiyah Northern and Southern Dana neighborhoods, and Doha Hills and Al Qusur, as well as Northern and Southern Doha neighborhoods.
