Feature: Kuwait celebrates days for independence, liberation

KUWAIT CITY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait celebrates its 58th Independence Day and 28th Liberation Day on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

The streets of Kuwait are crowded with a large number of participants, including local citizens, expats and tourists, holding national flags of Kuwait or dressed in colors of the flag.

They went out to witness the artistic and cultural events of the occasion, in which the official departments and private institutions are involved.

Some families set up tents or picnic mats on the roadside grassland to enjoy the national holiday.

Nasser Sultan Salmin, a 61-year-old retired Kuwaiti colonel, was one of the prisoners who survived the Iraqi war.

He said that 28 years after the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion, "it is not easy to deal with the great national epic lived by the people of Kuwait over seven months of the invasion."

The retired colonel, who lived the experience of being captured by the Iraqi army, said that celebrating the liberation day is not ever be easy for him or his family.

He explained that he and other prisoners were living in sadness back then, hoping that Kuwait will be liberated soon.

"One day you saw our psyche high and another you found us broken, but now we are blessed to live in our country that becomes great day after day," he said.

For 35-year-old Khalid Al-Dousri, celebrating the national days is considered as an appreciation of what Kuwait offers to its people.

"Kuwait, my country, is a blessing, it is important to preserve this homeland, protect it, protect its people and respect its existence," he noted.

"This is a beautiful occasion, especially the march by the people to express their love for this country," he said.

During two days of celebration, people go out in streets, spraying water guns or throwing water balloons at each other.

In regard to the usage of water guns, Ahmed Al-Azmi, 42, expressed his dissatisfaction with the way young people are celebrating the national days.

"The occasion is a special one in which we remember the joy of independence and liberation," he said, adding that "unfortunately, over time, some values have changed, so I do not prefer to go out in the march."

"A person can express his joy in a different way, not only to hear loud songs, and waste money and water just to celebrate. We can express our love for our country by working hard," he stressed.

Reem Atiyyah, a 39-year-old Jordanian, was born and raised in Kuwait. She said that Kuwait is considered as her second homeland, assuring that people can live in harmony if they want to.

Ali Al-sedqi, a Bahraini, stressed the importance of recalling the joy of independence and liberation from the invasion.

"I always come with my family to attend the celebration of national days of Kuwait. It is great that you see various celebrations for all ages," he said.

"My brother loves to participate in the march on the Gulf road and have fun with other people. My wife always comes for shopping for the great sale," he said.

"For me, I can see Kuwait has a high national spirit, where the streets and government buildings are decorated with lights and flags," he added.