KUWAIT: A man and his daughter buy tickets at a theme park during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.
— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: Last Wednesday marked the first day of Eid Al Fitr, and Muslims took the opportunity to send greetings and visit one another. Abdulrahman Mustafa said Eid celebrations are a clear expression of social solidarity and tolerance, and is an occasion for family reunions, where people renew their brotherly bonds.

"Eid is a special occasion for Muslims when families and friends visit each other to convey their best wishes. They are served sweets, chocolates and cakes. Eid visits continue although the temperature is 53 degrees," he added. "My wife's family visited us in the morning, then we had lunch in my family's house. And my children visited their friends."

Electricity consumption levels reached its maximum load on the fourth day of Eid, reaching a record 12,610 megawatts according to the Ministry of Electricity and Water. Some residential blocks in Rumaithiya and Rehab faced power outages. "There was a power blackout in Salmiya block 9 and in some buildings in my area, but not mine," Ahmed Abdullah told Kuwait Times. Abdullah said that Eid was very traditional for him, as he visited some relatives and went bowling with friends.

John Ramelas spent the three days of Eid at home with his children, who refused to go outside because of the heat. But Sabah Mahmoud was working on Eid. "I hate to take days off - that is why I spent my Eid working," he said. Laila Al-Taweel spent Eid with a constant fear of terrorism. "When I heard the news about the arrest of several Islamic State (IS) members who were targeting Kuwait, I decided to spent Eid at home and not take risks of being killed in a bomb blast," she said. Taweel celebrated Eid by getting her nails done and cleaning her house. "I am scared of the fact that IS members might be around us," she added.

By Faten Omar