In Perspective, Planet: Janadiriyah..A Heritage festival

[fahim mohammed]

Each year, a Saudi Heritage Festival is held just outside Riyadh, in Janadiriyah.

Yesterday, all my family..kids, grand kids, cousins..men and women we went to Janadiriyah.

Here are some snaps from that trip. It is interesting, in that under one huge purpose built village is an
entire presentation of the Saudi Heritage.

The windows and balconies are authentic representations. One can see the real thing in Jeddah

Ceremonial swords, daggers, sticks and canes are used in certain type of Folklore.

Before we left, Ayesha just had to make sure that there indeed was water in the well!!

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Each year, a Saudi Heritage Festival is held just outside Riyadh, in Janadiriyah.

Yesterday, all my family..kids, grand kids, cousins..men and women we went to Janadiriyah.

Hi Fahim,

Sounds like a huge undertaking. Is the festival just one day? Is it always on the same calendar day (except Friday), or is there another mechanism used.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Bart

 

[fahim mohammed]

Hi Fahim,

Sounds like a huge undertaking. Is the festival just one day? Is it always on the same calendar day (except Friday), or is there another mechanism used.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Bart

Hi Bart,
Not date specific. Runs for about two weeks. Open every day.
Other days of the year, the village is open as an exhibition.

But the traditional dancing and music is not.

The village, in all details, is a replica of the past from across the Kingdom.
It is a very big undertaking.

The air conditioning, e.g, is all made to resemble wooden windows.

Thanks for looking in.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Fahim,

This is a wonderful tradition to maintain the valuable heritage that can so easily get washed away by the tsunami of modernism. Especially important are the proverbs and poetry that are the cultural memory of a people. These are the first things destroyed when an air strip is made in the Amazon jungle and the native tribes are given access to clothes, Pepsi and the Bible translated into their native tongue. This is the camel's nose in the tent!

I was disturbed recently by a house painter, who happened to be a 3rd generation Armenian, who knew nothing of Armenian culture, not one idea!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Indeed. Our culture is our identity.
Here are some more snaps...

The following one is interesting, as I currently use a similar mat on the floor to sit on.

The last one is very precious to me. Brings back memories of my childhood. My house ( 2 rooms ) had
less items than what you see below.

Some similar items were there. My mother would serve food in a tray like the one you see center up.
Everything she cooked was there. The left overs were saved for the evening.

We still eat from trays like that one. All the family sitting around it

One should never forget one's roots.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Fahim,

What if a child wants no part of customs that the family cherishes. How is that pain dealt with? Or is there simply no room to wander off path?

On a practical matter, what happens to the town when the celebrants all return home? Is it a ghost town?

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

- Don't know.

- Permanent exhibition; Picnic place.

 

[fahim mohammed]

A traditional craft..

 

[fahim mohammed]

The Flower Festival..

We have an annual Spring flower festival in Riyadh.

It covers a huge area with many pavilions. There are educational sections, dealing with the soil,
various plants and the like.

The water conservation theme show is super.

And the flowers. All varieties. People are surprised that such flowers are grown here.

Here is Ayesha and Mariam in one of the resting areas..

 

[fahim mohammed]

We do have the Hypermarkets and the Supermarkets.
We do have Malls larger than the one in MN or anywhere else.

The Danone, The Carrefours etc. but our traditional markets still do brisk business.

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

Fahim

So fascinating- Thank you for taking me along- I was mesmerized
such a wonderful place and people- just beautiful- Thanks again wow!


Charlotte-

 

[fahim mohammed]

Charlotte,

I am glad you enjoyed some glimpses of our heritage.

The US is not necessarily the highest profit center for designer clothes and luxury goods from around the world.

We have our Chanel, Gucci, Tiffany etc. outlets. Huge complexes.

Here we see Ayesha bargaining with a local clothes seller for some cloth..

I enjoy going to places such as these. Drink tea. Talk. Bargain. Trade stories. Buy your goods.

 

[kumi_megumi]

Thanks a lot for these photos! I wish I could be there, seeing something traditional like this would be a magical experience for me!

 

[fahim mohammed]

Thanks a lot for these photos! I wish I could be there, seeing something traditional like this would be a magical experience for me!

You are very welcome.

Thank you for stopping by.