RIYADH, 20 March 2008 — The 23rd National Festival of Heritage and Culture ended yesterday in Janadriya, 45 kilometers north of Riyadh, with the participation of more than 350,000 visitors, including both Saudis and expatriates. The last three days of the festival were reserved exclusively for women, something that will be replaced with family-only days next year.

The two-week annual extravaganza featuring the Kingdom’s art and culture, was inaugurated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on March 5.

Hassan Al-Kaleel, spokesman for the festival’s organizers, said the idea of having family programs instead of ladies-only ones has gained popularity. “We’ll work hard to create an environment convenient for families to attend and enjoy the festival,” he added.

“Turkey’s participation as guest of honor this year drew enthusiastic crowds,” he said, adding that more countries are expected to participate in the event in coming years, including Russia in 2009 and France in 2010. Visitors to the festival, which is in its 23rd year, were entertained to traditional activities — including folk dances, arts and craft exhibitions and poetry readings.

The Turkish participation was one of the festival’s highlights. Hundreds of Turkish nationals from the Kingdom’s 11,000-strong Turkish expatriate community also visited Janadriya.

A traditional Turkish kitchen offered visitors the best of Turkish cuisine, including yaprak sarma, shish kebabs and famous desserts, such as baklawa. Turkish chefs also gave free lessons in how to prepare different kinds of Turkish coffee and offered on sale real Turkish coffee beans.

Monerah Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi visitor, was listening to a Turkish man providing tips on buying rugs. “I bought three colorful woolen and cotton carpets for SR600,” she said. “I often end up buying bad quality rugs which bleed when wet. Now I can distinguish whether a carpet has been made using chemicals or natural dyes,” she said.

The ladies-only programs were brilliant opportunities for young women to recall memories of a bygone era. Stationed in front of shops constructed side-by-side on the inner perimeter of a mud-walled fort built especially for the festival, young weavers (mainly girls) made spectacularly stitched jalabiyahs (the traditional dresses worn by Saudi women), leather bags, colorful belts and different styles of ornamental plates.

Badriyah Al-Motairy, leader of the team from the Craft Department at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, said 30 young girls participated at this year’s festival. “We train young girls these types of crafts to help them open their own businesses and preserve our heritage,” she added.

Visitors from France, Britain and the US viewed the festival as a chance to closely observe the Kingdom’s history and traditions. Carol Morin from Canada was looking at items that are rarely found, except in old Saudi markets. Morin was looking at a “mihmas” — a long spoon for roasting coffee beans over open fires. She told Arab News that it was her hobby to collect souvenirs from every country that she visits.

“I came to Janadriya for window shopping, but the traditional crafts area was tempting with the fascinating items that are on offer,” said Morin, who has been in the Kingdom for nine months.

“I loved seeing the different types of traditional clothes from several regions of the Kingdom,” said Jennifer Roy, another visitor, adding that she was surprised that Saudi women’s traditional attire was bright and colorful and not black.

“The festival was worth the visit. However, I don’t know why the ladies-only programs were for only three days,” she added.