JEDDAH, 15 February 2006 — An opera presented by well-known Saudi singers, an informative seminar on the need for Islamic and Arab unity, an impressive camel race with 600 contestants and many other items of interest feature in this year’s Janadriya Heritage and Culture Festival.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will declare the weeklong festivities open today at a colorful ceremony to be attended by dignitaries from inside and outside the Kingdom, including senior princes, Cabinet members and intellectuals.
Lt. Gen. Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, assistant deputy commander of the National Guard for military affairs, emphasized the significance of the festival, which begins with a camel race. “It has become one of the largest festivals in the Arab world,” he explained.
The Janadriya Festival, in a location 45 km north of Riyadh, showcases Saudi Arabia’s noble culture and traditions. In the past 20 years, it has hosted more than 125 seminars in addition to 45 lectures on regional and international topics and 40 poetry sessions with the participation of major figures.
A combination of 13 songs, the 50-minute opera symbolizes the unity and cohesion of Saudi society. Some 50 small children, 1,000 students and 300 members of folklore troupes will take part in the program, one of the major attractions of the opening day. It will be presented by leading Saudi singers Muhammad Abdu, Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Rashid Al-Majed and Abbas Ibrahim.
The main seminar of the festival will focus on the “Unity of Arab and Islamic Ummah: A Future Vision.” Participants include Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijeri, secretary-general of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Muslim World League.
There will be another seminar entitled “Charitable Work: A Futuristic Vision” with the participation by both Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Suwailem, president of Saudi Red Crescent Society, and Dr. Saleh Al-Wohaiby, secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.
Other programs include 22 dramas, poetry evenings, a book show, art exhibitions, and a Qur’an recitation contest. Abdullah Abdul Jabbar, a leading Saudi man of letters, will be honored on the second day. There will be pavilions sponsored by major public corporations and regional governorates.
“Women will play an active role in the festival with a variety of programs,” one source told Arab News. All their activities will be held at King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh. On Saturday, there will be a painting exhibition and a lecture by Dr. Fadiya Al-Saleh.
The Janadriya Festival began in 1985 following a Royal Decree issued by King Fahd. The festival itself owes its origin to the camel race which was, up to the mid-1980s, the only major activity that reminded the country of its heritage. The success of the first festival encouraged the late king to make it an annual event with a variety of attractive programs.
