JEDDAH, 29 August 2005 — A Jeddah beach cleaning drive in association with the local municipality is one of the prime events of a three-week long India festival being organized by the Consulate General of India in September.
“We’ve already been talking to the Jeddah Mayor (Adel Faqeeh) and with his cooperation we’ll be conducting the drive jointly with some local organizations,” Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed told a press conference yesterday. He unveiled a logo designed by ATEICO Communications for the festival, claimed to be the first of its kind both in terms of duration and content.
Highlights of the festival from Sept. 8 to 30 include mushairas featuring 17 poets (16 from India) in Jeddah and Madinah, a seminar on Urdu fiction spanning 50 years from 1951 with the participation of four scholars from India and another on historical links between the Kingdom and India, an exhibition with 80 rare photographs on Jammu & Kashmir, a tourism road show, and forums on opportunities for investment in India and honoring prominent Indian business personalities from the Gulf.
Also, there will be competitions for collectors of stamps and coins, an exhibition of rare photographs, postcards and posters on Islamic heritage, a seminar on taxation, an exhibition of Indian books, and a food festival.
