Eid’s unsung heroes

As we celebrate, we should not forget the people who work hard behind the scenes

Hairdressers have been in high demand and worked through Eid. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

For many of us, Eid is a time to leave the responsibilities and worries of work behind and to celebrate with family and close friends. But there are a significant minority who keep working throughout the holiday period to ensure that the rest of us are well looked after.

As The National has reported, barber shops and laundries are particularly busy now. But there are others who are on duty and have been throughout Ramadan and Eid – domestic and hospitality staff, doctors and nurses, police and emergency service workers. And then there are the self-employed shop owners and their staff. When the giant malls are quiet, the shops in the older neighbourhoods are buzzing, even after midnight, with customers looking to buy traditional sweets and other small gifts, or to collect clothes that have been made or modified for Eid celebrations.

This is a time to give thanks not just for what we have, but for the people who toil away in the background to make it all happen.