Badea Abu Al-Naja Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — Makkawis from various age groups and society poured out on the streets on Monday evening to celebrate the Kingdom's 83rd National Day. All major roads and squares in the city were decorated with green banners and posters of the Kingdom's leaders. Entertainment parks and shopping centers were the main venues for the celebrations, especially for the children who could be seen with their heads tied with green ribbons and carrying pictures of King Abdulaziz, the founder of the Kingdom, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman. A number of activities were organized at Al-Hijaz shopping center where music and national songs were played. Various troupes performed folklore dances. The Kingdom's green flags and photos of its leaders were distributed among the joyful children. The Al-Bir Charity Organization had set up a special corner where it entertained more than 60 children from the Orphans' Home and presented them with green stickers on which the phrase “Our Children” was boldly written. The children were also given various gifts. Talal Mahboub, a famous Mutawif, gave each orphan an envelope containing cash. Many families gathered at the Nawras Entertainment Resort to express their joy over the occasion. Folklore troupes presented popular songs and dances for them at a theater especially built for the occasion. Director of finance of Al-Bir Abdul Rahman Muminah said the organization was keen to mark the occasion with new initiatives that would make both children and parents happy. “We were determined to see the orphans mix with the other children,” he added. Khaled Balubaid, director of marketing at Al-Hijaz shopping center said they were ready for this great event and had set up special locations for children. “We established a studio with green colors all over the upper floor for the children and their parents to take memorial photos on this occasion,” he said. Director of Traffic Col. Solaiman Al-Jumaie was present in person to ensure smooth traffic movement and prevent bottlenecks in any of the streets in Makkah.
