RIYADH, 25 February 2005 — Thousands of Saudis attended the annual Janadriya Heritage and Cultural Festival yesterday when it informally opened to the public. All roads leading to the festival venue were jammed with hundreds of vehicles creating traffic snarls along the Thumamah Road, where several amusement parks are located.
A noteworthy aspect this time was the total absence of expatriates at the festival. Western expatriates who normally show up at such cultural events, stayed away. Police patrol cars were out in force, while unarmed security men from the National Guard, monitored the flow of visitors to the exhibition complex. Visitors had to leave their vehicles far away from the exhibition grounds and had to walk the distance amid slush and a cold evening snap.
Thousands of Saudis, both young and old, crowded the venue of the festival that features a number of pavilions portraying the cultural tapestry of each region. All eyes were on the male dancers brandishing their swords to the accompaniment of traditional music. The crowd was so dense that the youths took up vantage points to watch the spectacle.
Besides the folklore, another feature of the Asir pavilion was the sale of handicrafts typical of the region. Put up for sale were traditional swords, daggers, silver jewelry and freshly extracted sesame oil. The same pattern was repeated elsewhere, with each pavilion dedicated to a different province highlighting its typical culture and lifestyle.
Speaking to Arab News, Naser Al-Naser, owner of a handicraft shop, said his customers were mainly Saudis. “In the past, we used to have quite a few Western customers who would shop for handicrafts without bargaining. This time we have none as you can see for yourself.”
Muhammad Al Ghanim, a Saudi visitor, said it would be nice if the National Guard could add some new attractions every year. “I am a regular visitor and I find the same pavilions and trinkets every year.”
Various ministries and non-governmental organizations have put up their own stalls complete with literature and audiovisual material. The Ministry of Haj has put up a huge screen showing the Holy Kaaba and other places of interest to the pilgrims.
The Ministry of Social Affairs’ pavilion has on display a range of products made by handicapped people. An official spokesman told Arab News that there are eight to 10 workshops in the capital where 70 disabled students are being trained in making items such as the Holy Qur’an wooden stands (rihab), embroidered table mats and electrical accessories.
