WEST BANK: Palestinians celebrate Musa Season to mark Prophet Moses' contribution to the area as they sing Islamic songs and perform folk dances

Record ID: 561417

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinians celebrate Musa Season to mark Prophet Moses' contribution to the area as they sing Islamic songs and perform folk dances
  • Date: 21st April 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ZUHAIR SABAH, MEMBER OF ANWAR AL QUDS TROUPE, SAYING: "It's a positive step, we hope everyone will join in the celebrations to reach the aims of this festival." MAN SELLING SWEETS CALLED "MUSA SWEET" WHICH ARE MADE ONLY FOR THIS SEASON MOSQUE MINARET MOSQUE INSIDE NABI MUSA'S SITE
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVABVO6HHE69YN7I7QS4FB4H76CR
  • Story Text: Palestinians in the West Bank celebrated the Nabi Musa season that commemorates Prophet Moses' influence in the region.
    The seven day ceremony takes place in the Nabi Musa site in the Judean desert, on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho.
    Organiser of the Nabi Musa ceremony, Issam Jwihan, said Palestinians faced hostility from Israel through ways other than that of military might.

    "We are trying to celebrate this event every year because the occupation is fighting us from a number of directions, culturally, scientifically, historically, demolishing houses, and refugees. We are trying to revive through the culture, traditions, folklore and arts, especially during Musa season which has a very deep extension to the people of Jerusalem, the freedom of Jerusalem and the history of Jerusalem," he said.
    The festival, which started with the Good Friday for Orthodox Christians, centred around a pilgrimage by Muslims who came from afar as Jerusalem to a place called "The Tomb of Moses".
    This year's festival is part of Palestinian and Arab celebrations of Jerusalem being allocated the capital of Arab culture for 2009.
    Jericho Governor, Kamal Hamid, said the festival was important to remind locals of the area's history.

    "The ceremony is connecting between several historical terms, this ceremony reminds us of Salah El Din, the liberator of Jerusalem. So this ceremony comes along with celebrations of Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture, it reminds us of the Islamic history, sacrifices and champions. This ceremony shows the reality of Jerusalem in its true light," he said.
    Many troupes arrived from Palestinian cities, and some put on lengthy performances by singing Islamic songs.
    Zuhair Sabah, a member of the Anwar Al Quds Troupe, said widespread participation was crucial to the success of the festival.

    "It's a positive step, we hope everyone will join in the celebrations to reach the aims of this festival," he said.
    The Nabi Musa tomb is located on the Jerusalem-Jericho road, which is used nowadays as a main road by Palestinians.
    The festival was established by the Muslim leader Salah El Din Al-Ayyubi, after the conquest of Jerusalem in 1187 to outnumber Christian pilgrims during Easter inside Jerusalem.
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