SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's annual al-Janadriyah festival showcases camel races and cultural activities to celebrate the kingdom's identity and heritage

Record ID: 189324

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's annual al-Janadriyah festival showcases camel races and cultural activities to celebrate the kingdom's identity and heritage
  • Date: 16th February 2014
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (FEBRUARY 12, 2014) (REUTERS ) SCREEN SHOWING CAMEL RACE AT AL-JANADRIYAH FESTIVAL VIP GUESTS WATCHING THE RACE LIVE AND ON SCREEN SCREEN SHOWING SAUDI CROWN PRINCE, SALMAN BIN ABULAZIZ, WATCHING THE RACE VARIOUS OF CAMELS RACING VARIOUS OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN SAUDI ARABIA WATCHING THE RACE WIFE OF URUGUAY AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA, WATCHING RACE (SOUNDBITE) (English) WIFE OF URUGUAY AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA, SAYING: "We are delighted that we have been invited because for us, any occasion that we have, where we can get to know better your culture, and this is part of your culture (the camel race). So for us also it is new, it's very colourful, we're learning to appreciate the colours of even what the riders are wearing, with the sand, the colour of the camel." VARIOUS OF AMBASSADORS AND DIPLOMATS WATCHING THE RACE (SOUNDBITE) (English) URUGUAY AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA, CARLOS MORA, SAYING: "For me, it's something very interesting and different and I like it. We both like very much to be here today and to appreciate all this, such a typical things from here, very nice, we really like it." VARIOUS OF DIPLOMATS WATCHING THE RACE RACING CAMELS ARRIVING AT FINISHING LINE, WINNER RAISING HANDS UP WINNING CAMEL RACER BEING TAKEN TO RECEIVE HIS PRIZE WINNING CAMEL WITH GREEN SIGN PLACED ON HIS BACK READING (Arabic): 'FIRST PLACE' OWNER OF WINNING CAMEL BEING HUGGED AND CONGRATULATED BY PEOPLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF WINNING CAMEL, SAFFAR AL-SHARIF, SAYING: "The name of the camel is Daef. He crossed a distance of 19 km and got first place, thank God." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND WINNING CAMEL TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, DR. ALI AL-TUBAIKI, SAYING: "The 29th camel race gives a good indication of Saudi culture and civilisation to all the world. People see, through this race and these camels, a symbol of civilisation and a symbol of Arab culture in general and Saudi culture in particular, which reflects a very great legacy to different generations." CAMELS LEAVING RACE AREA
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3W5V77GUZAMBDKXNPTCHJEFZN
  • Story Text: Visitors and officials have been flocking to the desert outside Riyadh to enjoy an annual festival of Saudi culture and heritage.
    Held at al-Janadriyah village, some 45 kilometres from the Saudi capital, the two-day event kicked off on Wednesday (February 12) and aims to promote the Saudi identity through camel races, music and dance performances, poetry and local cuisine.
    Now in its 29th year, the festival was attended by many foreign dignitaries, including over 50 ambassadors to the kingdom.
    Speaking at the opening event, Uruguay's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and his wife said they were delighted to have been invited to attend.

    "For us, any occasion that we have, where we can get to know better your culture, and this is part of your culture (the camel race). So for us also it is new, it's very colourful, we're learning to appreciate the colours of even what the riders are wearing, with the sand, the colour of the camel," said the ambassador's wife.

    "For me, it's something very interesting and different and I like it. We both like very much to be here today and to appreciate all this, such a typical things from here, very nice, we really like it," said the Uruguay ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Carlos Mora.
    In keeping with tradition, this year's festival began with a camel race. Hundreds of contestants competed over a distance of 19 kilometres.
    The winning camel belonged to Saffar al-Sharif.

    "The name of the camel is Daef. He crossed a distance of 19 km and got first place, thank God," said al-Sharif.
    In all, 1200 participants are expected to compete for cash in other races during the festival.
    Camels have long been a central element in Bedouin culture, with multiple uses including as food, transport, war machines and even companions. The Arabic language famously has over 40 terms for different breeds, ages and genders of camel.

    "The 29th camel race gives a good indication of Saudi culture and civilisation to all the world. People see, through this race and these camels, a symbol of civilisation and a symbol of Arab culture in general and Saudi culture in particular, which reflects a very great legacy to different generations," said university professor Ali al-Tubaiki.
    The Janadriyah festival first began as a showcase for a Bedouin culture heritage of camels, tents, coffee pots and swords that seemed in danger of disappearing.
    But in recent years, it has become a cultural attraction for tourists as well as an opportunity to encourage national unity.
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