AL-BAHA: The rhythmic chants, sharp whistle calls and military-style marches of the Al-Assah, the traditional village guards of Saudi Arabia’s southwest, are transporting visitors back in time at the ninth Al-Atawilah Heritage Festival in Al-Baha region.
Dressed in carefully recreated uniforms, performers bring to life the men once responsible for maintaining order and protecting villages, offering festival goers a glimpse into a chapter of local history that has largely disappeared from daily life.
The reenactments, reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday, feature disciplined parades and ceremonial drills that reflect the duties once carried out by the Al-Assah, whose presence was a familiar sight in villages across the region.
The event showcases Al-Baha’s rich heritage through traditional arts. (SPA)
Their performances have become one of the festival’s most popular attractions, drawing crowds eager to photograph the guards and learn about the role they played in safeguarding their communities.
To preserve historical authenticity, the festival’s organizing committee reproduced the original official attire worn by the guards, including olive-green trousers, matching shirts, belts and ghutras, along with military boots and the government-issued rifles they once carried.
Beyond the Al-Assah performances, the festival offers a wide range of cultural and entertainment activities designed to appeal to visitors of all ages, the SPA reported.
The event showcases Al-Baha’s rich heritage through traditional arts, interactive experiences and family oriented attractions, reflecting broader efforts to preserve the region’s cultural identity while promoting it as a destination where history, nature and living traditions come together.
