Al-Jenadriyah ( ar, مهرجان الجنادرية, Maharajān al-Janādrīyah) is a cultural and heritage festival held in Jenadriyah (or Janadriyah
[Mohammad Nowfal]
Janadriyah, Saudi Arabia
, ''Splendid Arabia'' website. Retrieved 2010-08-23) near
Riyadh
Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the R ...
in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
each year, lasting for two weeks. "
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ( ar, عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود ''ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al ʿAzīz Āl Saʿūd'', Najdi Arabic pronunciation: ; 1 August 1924 – 23 January 2015) was King and Prime Minister of Saudi A ...
was the first to organize this festival. He fostered it and developed it to become the top Arab festival that showcases the local heritage of all Arabian Peninsula regions as well as the Saudi Arabian heritage"
It is organised by the
National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
, and the first was held in 1985.
Activities include a camel race, performance of local music and dancing of the
Ardah
Ardah ( ar, العرضة / ALA-LC: ''al-‘arḍah'') is a type of folkloric group dance in the Arabian Peninsula. The dance is performed with two rows of men opposite of one another, each of whom may or may not be wielding a sword or cane, and i ...
and the
Mizmar. The festival draws more than one million visitors every year.
[Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival](_blank)
SAMIRAD, the Saudi Arabian Market Information Resource. The festival "normally falls during the month of February or March...Long ago, Janadriyah was known as 'Rowdhat Souwais' and was mentioned by numerous historians and writers."
In July 2019, the Saudi cabinet transferred the responsibility of organizing the festival to the
Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture may refer to:
*Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania)
*Ministry of Culture (Algeria)
*Ministry of Culture (Argentina)
* Minister for the Arts (Australia)
*Ministry of Culture (Azerbaijan)
* Ministry of ...
after it was under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Guard.
Events and Activities
The festival opens with the opening ceremony master, and then varied events held, including:
* "Al Janadriya Operetta.
* Tourism Oasis.
*
Saudi Ardah.
* Government Pavilions.
* Provincial Pavilions.
* Companies and Corporate wings.
* Poetry Evenings.
* Heritage Village Activity."
*
Camel racing
Camel racing is a popular sport in Western Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Pakistan, Mongolia and Australia. Professional camel racing, like horse racing, is an event for betting and tourist attraction. Camels can run at speeds up to ...
* Horse racing and endurance.
* Dancing.
* Folk costumes.
*
Book fair
A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arr ...
* Centre for documentation and pictures
* Host country of the world to participate in the festival. In 2010, the
French Republic
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
participated in the Jenadriyah 25.
* Display of traditional crafts such as pottery, weaving, woodwork, metalwork, and leatherwork
Country participation in the festival
Every year Saudi Arabia has hosted a guest of honor such as:
* In 2010, the
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
Republic participated in the Jenadriyah 25.
*
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
was the guest of honor at Janadriyah 31,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
at Janadriyah 30 and the
UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
at Janadriyah 29.
*
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
was the guest of honor country at Janadriyah 32.
*
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
was the guest of honor country at the 33rd Janadriyah festival.
See also
*
Tourism in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East with over 16 million visiting in 2017. Although most tourism in Saudi Arabia still largely involves religious pilgrimages, there is growth in the leisure tourism sector. ...
References
External links
Official website of the Festival
Annual events in Saudi Arabia
Folk festivals in Saudi Arabia
{{Portal, Saudi Arabia