Beshara | The National

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The Middle East witnessed a rare convergence of renewal and faith this weekend, as Eid Al Fitr and Nowruz fell on the same day.

Eid Al Fitr, which follows Ramadan, marks the completion of one of Islam’s core pillars and is celebrated with gratitude, community and joy. Meanwhile, Nowruz marks the spring equinox and symbolises renewal.

Both occasions carry themes of hope, light and togetherness, and come at a particularly critical moment for the region.

For the first time in three years, Gaza observed Eid without active war, with residents adamant about bringing back celebrations. “We are trying to live again,” said Amani Abu Jalhoum, 33, as she walked through a crowded market in the enclave to buy clothes and sweets for her children. “We don’t have much. But we have this moment. We choose to be happy.”

Nowruz celebrations, on the other hand, were overshadowed by conflict this year, including in Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq's Kurdistan region. Still, many chose to celebrate the occasion "as a sign of life".

“[People] want to celebrate Nowruz. It's in our blood,” Omid Walizadeh, an Iranian living in Paris, told The National. “No matter what, you have got to feel hope.”

A traveller arrives in Greece with her dog after returning on a flight from Abu Dhabi. Getty Images

More than 100 travellers and their furry friends flew from Abu Dhabi to Athens as part of a joint repatriation initiative by Emirati and Greek authorities. Passengers who boarded the flight with their pets said they never considered leaving "members of our family behind".

“Our animals are not luggage, they are members of our family and, for that reason, the government made this happen,” said Nikolaos Chrysakis, the Greek Interior Ministry's director of the Secretariat for the Protection of Companion Animals.

- Suraya Miah, a social worker and activist, has built a career in community support, aiming to make community centres in London a safe space for people of different cultures

Pakistani couple Saqib Rauf and Farah Diba Sakib welcomed their baby at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Burjeel Hospital

Uncertainty and worry amid war turned into joy and optimism for one Pakistani couple in Abu Dhabi as they welcomed a healthy baby boy in the early hours of Eid.

“This Eid will always remain close to our hearts,” said Saqib Rauf. “Welcoming our baby at this time feels especially meaningful. Moments like these remind us of what truly matters. We hope his arrival brings brighter days ahead for everyone.”

Ayesha Pant, 31, also expressed optimism for the future after she gave birth to her first child, a boy weighing 2.84kg. “This Eid has given us the most precious gift of our lives. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful blessing,” said her husband, W Rasanjana Srimantha Desilva.