Jenadriyah

Jenadriyah festival (2012)

Jenadriyah,also known as theNational Heritage and Culture FestivalorAl-Janadriyah Festival(Arabic:مهرجان الجنادرية, romanized: Maharajān al-Janādrīyah) is acultural heritagefestivalin theKingdom of Saudi Arabia.A cultural heritage festival is acelebrationwhere people come together to show and celebrate theirhistoryandaction or way of behaving that is common among them.It has been celebrated in Saudi Arabia since the year 1985.

Most of the times, it takes place in February or March during theSpring season.The festival is then celebrated for around 14 days (twoweeks). People from both inside and outside Saudi Arabia come to see the festival. For 34 years, theMinistry of the National Guardorganizedthe festival, but in July 2019, the duty was given to theMinistry of Culture.The festival shows a lot of things related to Saudi Arabia. Avillageis shown with old items,ornaments that people wear, for example rings, bracelets, and necklacesandtoolsused by Saudi people over fifty years ago as well asworks of art.Each year, a different country is invited as a specialguest.They are called the 'Guest ofHonor'. Saudi Ministry of Culture invites them to see the festival's celebration. This also helps to make good relations with that country. The festival shows Saudi Arabia'scultureand history. A large number of people from other countries or places come to see this. It is a place to make people learn about the country's old days and its people's way of life and to also increaseTourism.With its different types of activities andplaces of interest where tourists visit,the festival has become an important event for exchanging of cultures and understanding among nations.

History

The first National Heritage and Culture Festival began on March 24, 1985, and was open until April 3, 1985. The main goal of the festival was to promote interest in Saudi heritage(something that is handed down fromgenerationto generation),save it, and educate people about it. The festival showed different activities that showed the local environment, including old houses, markets, and old sets oftoolsfrom different regions of Saudi Arabia. Over half a millionvisitorscame to saw the festival at the village which later became known as Al-Jenadriyah Village and the festival later became known as Al-Jenadriyah Festival.

Camels for the Camel racing during Jenadriyah Festival

During the Sixth Jenadriyah Festival, there werepoetryreadings andmeetings for discussion and trainingwherepeople who write poetrytook part. Around 290,000 people visited the bookfair,and there were alsotheaterperformancesthat showed Saudi society's heritage. People enjoyed watching thesetraditionalperformances byfolkgroups from different places of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, sports events likehorse racing,wheelchair racefordisabledpeople and acamelracing competition were also started. Visitors also saw traditional Saudi activities like using atreadmilland pressingsesame plantwhich was done by rotating the camel around thejuicer.

The Jenadriyah Festival is celebrated once in a year but in 2018 on the order ofKing Salman bin AbdulAzizthe festival wasconductedtwo times, first time in February and second time in December. India was theGuest of Honorin February whileIndonesiawas theGuest of Honorin December.

Events and activities

The festival opens with an openingceremony(held in celebration of the start of something);it then proceeds with various events, including:

• Al JenadriyahOperetta
• Tourism area
• Saudi Ardah
• Government Pavilions
• Provincial Pavilions
• Companies andCorporatewings
• PoetryEvenings
• Heritage Village Activity
• Camelracing
• Horse racing
• Dancing
• Folk costumes
• Bookfair
• Centre fordocumentationand pictures
• 'Guest of Honor' country to participate in the festival. In 2018, theRepublic of Indiaparticipated in the 32nd Jenadriyah Festival.
• Pavelion for 'Guest of Honor' country
• Showing old crafts such aspottery,process of combining and organizing two different sets of yarns together to make fabric,process of making objects from woodandprocess of making objects from metals.

Other websites

• Official website of the Festival(in Arabic)