The year before last year, a 30-day month of Ramadan forced one more day of national holiday. Incidentally, this year's Eid Holidays are followed by the two-day weekend. But this would not affect establishments like newspapers where journalists and other staff would keep working till moon sighting this evening. And if the Eid is delayed, they will return to work on Friday, the day after the festival, enjoying only a two-day holiday. Preparations for the big occasion are evident all over.
Shopping malls are busy dealing with last-minute shoppers.
Already, government offices in the capital showed the signs of a holiday mood yesterday. In banks, tellers were busier than usual. The festival is taking home tens of thousands from their workplaces in cities and towns. The massive movement has had its reflection in the transport terminals where homebound people scrambled for tickets as usual yesterday. For the permanent residents in the city, the holiday promises a welcome relief - at least from regular chaos and congestion on the streets.