Dhahran, More Than 85,000 Visitors Experience Eid Traditions from Six Islamic Cultures at Ithra
Under the theme “Ithra Eid: Moments We Share,” the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an Aramco initiative, welcomed more than 85,000 visitors during its four-day Eid Al-Adha celebrations. The event offered an immersive cultural experience showcasing Eid traditions from six countries across the Islamic world.
Throughout the celebrations, Ithra transformed into a vibrant cultural destination where traditions, stories, and shared experiences came together. Visitors were greeted in the Plaza by the aromas of coffee and tea, accompanied by traditional songs and live performances that reflected the spirit of Eid.
Six Countries, One Shared Experience
The festivities spanned Ithra’s various venues, presenting Eid through its most familiar elements: hospitality, storytelling, performing arts, workshops, and theater. The event brought together the cultures of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan, allowing visitors to explore each country’s unique Eid customs and traditions.
A Journey Through Aromas and Flavors
Traditional hospitality formed the heart of the experience. Saudi coffee and Omani karak were served in the Plaza alongside Moroccan and Indonesian tea, Egyptian hibiscus tea, and Uzbek green tea.
The “A Story in Every Scent” experience explored memories of Eid through fragrances associated with each country, from Taif roses and Omani frankincense to orange blossoms and Uzbek apricots. “Journey of Emotions” combined art, senses, and memories, while “Eid Tea Stories” introduced visitors to the origins of tea and its emotional significance during Eid celebrations.
Ithra Theater also attracted large audiences during special musical evenings featuring renowned artist Hamood AlKhudher, adding a vibrant artistic dimension to the festivities.
Eid Through Children’s Eyes
At the Children’s Museum, young visitors enjoyed their own Eid experience through educational and recreational activities, including interactive games, workshops, and family-friendly performances that blended learning with entertainment.
At the Energy Exhibit, science met creativity through interactive workshops such as “The Fragrant Journey of Emotions,” “The Hidden Color,” and “Eid Spectrum,” which explored the connections between scents, colors, and emotions.
Grandma’s House Memories
At Knowledge Oasis, the “Eid at Grandma’s House” program recreated the atmosphere of traditional family Eid gatherings through storytelling and cultural narratives. Families and children also participated in the “Decorate Our Eid” workshop, reviving traditional Eid decorations as an important part of social memory and heritage.
Reflecting on the Meaning of Hospitality
Visitors to the Ithra Museum experienced “Tafassahu,” an art installation inspired by the traditional majlis. The exhibition invites reflection on the values of hospitality, belonging, and community—principles echoed throughout Ithra’s Eid programming. The exhibition will remain open until March 20, 2027.
Across the Eid holiday, visitors moved between performances, stories, workshops, and sensory experiences in a celebration that reimagined Eid as a shared cultural space where diverse traditions come together through common values and cherished memories.
