Manama: Saudis on Monday celebrated their 83rd National Day with great fanfare among strong feel-good sentiments, particularly among women.
Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz used his official Twitter account to congratulate his fellow countrymen on the occasion. “I hope that the joy on the National Day will reflect our consciousness, culture, attitudes and morals,” Prince Salman said.
His greetings prompted a deluge of messages from common people expressing their allegiance to the country and its leaders.
Shopping malls and major streets, mainly near the carefully manicured esplanades, were filled with ostensible signs of patriotism and people, mainly the young, were prompt to take part in the celebrations.
Prior to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz assuming power in August 2005, the National Day was not celebrated in the country where conservatives supporting austerity in living insisted that only two religious feasts could be celebrated by Saudis.
King Abdullah this year added Sunday to the Friday and Saturday weekend and with Monday the official holiday, Saudis in the public sector got four consecutive days off. “We will always recall the year between the 82nd National Day and the 83rd National Day with great fondness,” Sarrah, a Saudi teacher, said. “It was a special year because it marked the genuine political empowerment of women in the kingdom. Now that 20 per cent of the Shura Council members are women, and women have been appointed to advanced positions in the country, we feel that we have made huge strides as we move forward. Saudi women are increasingly interested in academic scholarships and that heralds a promisingly shining future,” she said.
King Abdullah is being seen as a champion of women as he pushes ahead wide-ranging political, social and economic reforms in the country. “Economically, we have seen a robust drive to empower women by encouraging them to take jobs in shops,” Sarrah said. “It might be seen as a small step by other people or countries, but for us it is a giant leap forward. With the authorities holding their ground and working on easing pressure and removing obstacles, we look forward to a brighter future,” she said.
Saudis who crossed the King Fahd Causeway, the 25-km terrestrial link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, celebrated their National Day by parading their cars carrying Saudi flags in the main avenues of the capital Manama.
