Rich culture unveiled at Janadriyah

Locals and expatriates here have been impressed by the pavilions showcasing the Kingdom's rich cultural history at the 29th Janadriyah Festival, which kicked off Wednesday and will run for 17 days.
Judging from the feedback of visitors, it has already fulfilled the promise of its founder, the late King Fahd, who started the event in 1985 to bring Saudis together and preserve the nation's heritage.
“The event is something to remember. Like other celebrations in the past, it features traditional local events which reflect the unique culture of the Kingdom,” said Mohd Khalaf, a public relations officer for a local firm.
He said these traditional events “are unique because they can only be seen in the Kingdom, not Europe, the United States or Australia.”
He said Janadriyah is also a reminder of how quickly the nation has developed into a regional economic powerhouse.
“The camel race, for instance, has been the mainstay of the annual festival. It's part and parcel of Saudi life and culture. It was a sport indulged in by earlier generations of Saudis for entertainment and to keep themselves physically fit,” he said.
He said the artifacts and other cultural items displayed at the various pavilions also reflect the Kingdom's "historic past, vibrant present and, hopefully, colorful future."
“Looking at the cultural displays makes you walk down memory lane and get a glimpse of the milieu from which the Kingdom originated. It gives you an idea of the kind of life of earlier Saudi generations, where they lived, how and where they drew water, and so on,” said Arman Cruz Mariano who works at King Saud University.
He said it has also become a place for local and foreign intellectuals to meet and discuss current issues of importance that affect their way of life.
“The festival is a melting pot for ideas, as it were, because it hosts a seemingly never-ending stream of cultural discussions,” said Eric P. Asi, an engineer at Nardeen Lighting, who also visited the festival last year with his family.
He said it has also been instrumental in promoting cultural relations among nations.
“It's great fun listening to the intellectuals. They discuss issues knowledgeably. They may disagree over an issue but they allow each other to express their opinions. That's good. After all, nobody has a monopoly on knowledge,” he said.
Meynard M. Pesig, an engineer at Light Technologies, said the festival was likely to become more popular in future and draw greater numbers of foreign visitors.
“There's much to gain from visiting the festival. You don't only have time to relax and spend quality time with the family, but also imbibe more cultural information on the Kingdom. You also meet other foreigners with whom you strike up lasting friendships,” he said.