Sallah: Feast with treasures of Nigeria
Most towns in Nigeria observe the day according to their own traditions but the nature of the early morning prayers is always uniform.On the first day, faithful dressed in traditional colourful attires will visit the Eid praying grounds mostly located on the outskirt of city centres to offer special prayers to Almighty Allah for His […]
Most towns in Nigeria observe the day according to their own traditions but the nature of the early morning prayers is always uniform.On the first day, faithful dressed in traditional colourful attires will visit the Eid praying grounds mostly located on the outskirt of city centres to offer special prayers to Almighty Allah for His blessings and protection throughout the fasting period.
Immediately after the prayers, the celebration galore starts with many colourful proceedings. In the North, the Durbar tradition is mostly the highpoint of the Sallah festivals while in the South, it is mostly observed with colourful traditional songs and dances.
From the galaxy of Zaria palace riders, to Kano outstanding horse parade and Bauchi warriors, the country is rich with a lot of durbar displays.
Durbar can also be observed in ancient towns of Maiduguri, Katsina, Sokoto, Minna , Yola, Hadejia, Machina and Ijebu Ode. In most of these towns, hundreds of horse riders adorned in colourful costumes will converge in front of the emir’s palace to show their allegiance at the same time, entertain the Durbar enthusiasts. It is always a thrilling performance to watch.
Attractions for leisure seekers
However, for leisure seekers, it is an opportunity to explore natural and man-made attractions.
Nigeria offers endless attractions to a discerning leisure seeker. From natural scenery to recreational resorts, the country is blessed with variety of treasures.
Apart from the warm climate, the country is also blessed with fascinating beaches and lush vegetation in the South. In the North, it is an enthralling landscape resting on savannah grasslands.
Each of the six geo-political zones is blessed with various climatic conditions with adequate sunshine.
For cool weather, places like Plateau and Bauchi states are unique destinations for a visitor. A visitor can also take a trip to Lokoja in Kogi State or Makurdi in Benue State to explore River Niger. If you think that is not enough, you can move to Nasarawa or Niger States to enjoy the sheer cascading Farin Ruwa and Gurara falls. In the West, you can go to the historic slave ports of Badagary, Lagos or Bonny Island in Calabar.
If a fun seeker prefers mountaineering, then the ancient Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State; Shere Hills in Jos, Plateau State, Dass Hills in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State; Kwatarkwashi Mountain in Zamfara State, Turunku Hills in Kaduna and Gobarau Minerate in Katsina, Katsina State.
The biodiversity of Nigeria’s national parks also makes a visit to the national park an irresistible one. The national parks are special natural ecosystems with unique attributes. Many of these parks are rich in ethno-historical and archaeological attractions. Thus: Yankari National Game Reserve in Bauchi State, the Kainji Lake Park in Niger State, Old Oyo Park in Oyo State, Gashaka Gumpti in Taraba State, Chad Basin Park in Borno State, Cross River Park, Okomu Park in Benin in Edo State among many other attractions.