SAUDI ARABIA: The annual Janadriyah festival of culture and heritage is underway in Riyadh, featuring camel races, music and dance performances from around the world

Record ID: 189145

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: The annual Janadriyah festival of culture and heritage is underway in Riyadh, featuring camel races, music and dance performances from around the world
  • Date: 8th April 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNBITE) (Arabic) AHMAD ISSA, VISITOR, SAYING: "China is the inconceivable country, China is a country of civilization, if you look at my clothes or your clothes, you will find that most of what we wear is made in China, so they have the right to be the guest of honour at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVAB1UJL1EFFWR1DGF8W361VEGX0
  • Story Text: Thousands of people flocked to the Saudi Arabian village of Janadriyah, close to the capital Riyadh, to experience the kingdom's annual festival of culture and heritage.
    The festival, which started on Wednesday (April 3) is expected to draw around one million visitors from the kingdom and abroad.
    The event which lasts for two weeks aims to celebrate Saudi identity through showcasing arts, sword dancing, poetry and cuisine.
    In keeping with tradition, this year's event started with a camel race in which hundreds of participants competed over a distance of 20 kilometres.
    The winners were awarded cash prizes or cars.
    Jockey Saleem al-Rashidi won second place in one of the races.

    "A large number of competitors are participating and everyone wants to win the race, there are people who buy a camel for one million or two million or three to win the race, when I am winning I feel great and delighted, and very happy," said al-Rashidi.
    Music is also an important theme in Saudi Arabia's cultural fabric and it's celebrated during the festival, with musicians playing instruments like the rababa, a wooden string instrument described as 'boat like'.
    This year, the kingdom has broken with tradition by choosing China as the festival's guest of honour, with Chinese dancers entertaining revellers.
    China is already one of Saudi Arabia's biggest oil customers and the kingdom is looking to boost ties further with the Asian state.

    "China is the inconceivable country, China is a country of civilization, if you look at my clothes or your clothes, you will find that most of what we wear is made in China, so they have the right to be the guest of honour at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Ahmad Issa, a visitor at the exhibition.
    The festival was officially inaugurated by King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud and attended by large number of foreign representatives .
    Visitors included foreign students and workers from all over the world, for whom it was a chance to learn more about the country they live and work in.

    "Well, for the twelve months I have been here I travelled around the Kingdom quite a bit, so I have seen a lot of Saudi culture but it's good to see all the different regions of the Kingdom brought together in one place and be able to see the differences from different villages and over the different time periods that were covering," said James, a visitor from London.

    "We are happy to be present in Saudi Arabia to strengthen economic and trade relations for the benefit of the two countries," said Mamu Kaban, a Chinese student studying at the King Saud University in Riyadh.
    Festival organisers say the event is an important way to carry on traditions, and educate young people about their heritage.

    "Janadriyah is the slogan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all areas, there are fair competitions by creative youth to celebrate the heritage of our fathers and grandfathers," said Ahmed Abu Sab'aa, the festival's Mecca city representative.
    The roots of the festival lie in Bedouin culture, where organisers were initially keen to highlight it, and prevent certain traditions from disappearing.
    Now in it's 28th year, the festival celebrates all the regions in Saudi Arabia with intellectuals, poets and diplomats also expected to attend.
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