- Title: Libyans celebrate Eid al-Fitr with traditional dance festival in Benghazi
- Date: 23rd April 2023
- Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA (APRIL 21, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIBYANS IN BENGHAZI WEARING TRADITIONAL COSTUMES AND DANCING DURING A EID AL-FITR FESTIVAL
- Embargoed: 7th May 2023 12:07
- Keywords: Eid al-Fitr Heritage Libya Religion Tradition
- Location: BENGHAZI, LIBYA
- City: BENGHAZI, LIBYA
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Africa,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001715223042023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PART AUDIO AS INCOMING
Libyans in Benghazi celebrated Eid al-Fitr during a festival where they wore traditional costumes and engaged in song and dance.
The festival, which started as a simple meeting point for people to take pictures during Eid five years ago, developed into a traditional song and dance festival that takes place on an annual basis.
It aims to reassert Libyan identity among youth.
“The Libyan costume is a basic pillar of a unified Libyan identity and depicts a portrait of areas around Libya,†Libyan citizen in Benghazi, Moayad Bourawi said.
“This gathering today is a call for the unity of Libyans around one of God’s teachings and is a chance for the unity of the people, away from political divisions,†he added.
Libyans celebrated Eid al-Fitr holiday on different days this year because of bitter political splits that persist despite years of peace efforts.
Religious authorities in east Libya, aligned with the parliament which is based there, said they had sighted the crescent moon on Thursday (April 20), making it the last day of fasting and setting Friday (April 21) as Eid.
In Tripoli, the capital, religious authorities linked to the national interim government said they had not seen the moon and the holiday would not begin until Saturday (April 22), meaning people should fast another day.
The date of Eid is normally set by the official religious authority in each country, but Libya has had little stability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising against ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The country split in 2014 between warring factions in east and west, a rift that remains despite comparative peace since 2020.
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