Grand Mosque of Saudi resumes Iftar meals
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Riyadh: The Grand Mosque of Saudi Arabia has resumed providing Iftar meals for people as the holy month of Ramadan and fasting days have started. On the first day of fasting, people were seen lined up in front of dining tables around the time of Maghreb, Arab News reported.
The Iftar meals in the Grand Mosque are back after two years of the raging pandemic, related lockdowns and restrictions.
The Iftar meals in the mosque were distributed to all devotees in designated places alike, irrespective of nationalities. On the first fasting day, officials and volunteers participated in the meal distribution drive. According to Arab News, different types of dates and Zamzam water will also be distributed throughout iftars in the holy month.
Saudi Arabia lifting all Covid-19 restrictions ahead of the holy month of Ramadan has lifted the spirits of citizens and residents as well. Prayers in the mosque, including the Taraweeh (late night prayers), resumed while restrictions on social gatherings were lifted. The Kingdom had given permission to operate bazars other activities related to the festive season.
It was on March 4, 2020, that Saudi Arabia imposed restrictions. It stopped Umrah and visits to the Two Holy Mosques for citizens as the severe pandemic scare broke out along with the virus. Two years later, this March, the Saudi administration lifted all the precautionary and preventive measures, including wearing face masks in public places and social distancing from both public and private places.
Arab News learnt that people living in the country are totally excited, which they shared with the news agency. For the last two Ramadan, the gathering of relatives was put on hold due to the restrictions, one of the residents said. Now there is no restriction on gatherings and friends and family can be together. A person told Arab News that the last two years were economically, psychologically and socially difficult. Since the restrictions are lifted, there is the festive season, and people have something to look forward to, the person added.