Each year just a short drive outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia hosts its Al Janadriyah Festival. This is the largest annual cultural event held in the Kingdom. This is the special event for anyone residing in or visiting the Kingdom to see. Al Janadriyah showcases the best of the best of Saudi culture, customs and traditions. There are numerous activities allowing one to sample traditional Saudi dishes from the various regions of Saudi to observing the best dancers and singers from each region performing traditional dances and songs of their region. Al Janadriyah allows one to feel like they have gone back in time to the early history and beginnings of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi photographer kindly provided these two photos which he took during the last Al Janadriyah Festival which depict Saudi men continuing trade and handicraft today as it was practiced hundreds of years ago.
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That’s interesting information – for a country known for its anathema for anything festive.
Interesting! I was just reading about this last night!
Oh thank you for the info. It looks like this year’s festival starts next weekend. Trying to dig up some more information about it now. Sounds really interesting.
Al Janadriyah is an exceptional event but just watch carefully for timings
We loved going to this festival when we lived in Riyadh from 1992 to 1995 and again from 1996 to 1998. I picked up some small painted doors one year — new, but painted in the old decorative style — and they really brighten our house. We also enjoyed the music and dance exhibitions, including the traditional sword dance.
The kids had a blast as well — a treasured photo is of my son, Tom (now 22), and a friend atop a camel. As I recall, there are times set aside for expat families to attend.
Umm Tom,
Usually there are times for expat families to get to attend this wonderful festival as a family. I continue to have a hard time though that the biggest cultural event in the Kingdom maintains segregation among Saudi families from going together as a family to experience and learn more of their heritage and culture. My husband and I never received the opportunity to go and enjoy ourselves together.
it’s a great place to visit. we enjoyed it, and now that i think back i would have loved to visit it with F, Unfortunately we never did it together. I did think at that time that segregation meant we couldn’t so some things as a family.
fond memories..
But it’s worth it to visit this festival even alone
I bought small cups like the chip and dip ones only much much better and in beautiful handpainted colors..still have them. we fill it with water and float flowers in it though …it’s sitting right in front of me as i type
There are so many unique and beautiful items one can find only at Janadriyah that are difficult to find elsewhere and in such a large variety. You’re right…it is worth going to even if it must be without family but still sad to be that way.
How do we find out about this? Is there a website? If there is expat day, can we all go together or do the men/women have to go separately? Need more info!
(which probably means I’ve already missed it, huh?)
I’m sure you can info in the ministry of culture and info, in nasseriya street. but againthis info could be outdated.
i know it’s somewhere outside of riyadh and for some reason i remember the national guard as organizing it..
yes carol, it’s such a shame that we can’t go as a family but i’ve usually taken the kids once and then left them with F and taken off on my own with friends.. it was fun, women appreciate diff things than men and also buy diff stuff so it was not bad. When i was there i did so many things alone it became second nature, as we grow older and realize that we don’t have eternal youth me and F tend to stick together and get upset when faced with segregation..
Usually the local papers and tv stations announce/broadcast Janadriyah schedule. I’ve also found http://www.arriyadh.com to be a good source too for Janadriyah and other events.
@Radha – you’re right that at times in life it is not worth being bothered by segregation. I think I just like to complain sometimes! (smile)
Is there any special permit for taking some pictures in this festival?
Opening time for men only: March 18 to March 22/2010
4:00PM till 8:00PM
Opening time for families: March 24 to March 31/2010
10:00AM till 5:00PM
(Friday march 26 2010 / 1:00pm till 5:00PM)
I got this schedule off the expat-blog site. >>http://www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=27021<>http://www.janadria.org.sa/Janadria25/Arabic/<<
I'd been to the festival in 2007 and 2008 and had a good time; so, yeah I'm looking forward to another visit. Missed it last year though when they'd set aside "family days" for the first time, that's why I'm not sure if it actually works. I wouldn't be suprised if men are turned away and it ends up being a women only affair.
So if anyone manages to make it to the festival successfully with their families, do let us know here.
Made a slight mess of the previous comment.
A part of it should have gone…
The festival has its own website but it’s only in Arabic and even then the timings box (or whatever you would call it) doesn’t work.
>>http://www.janadria.org.sa/Janadria25/Arabic/<<
@Haris,
To my knowledge there is not a special permit required. However if at the festival and taking photos, the pictures should be of the displays and activities and not of the visitors, especially women.
Sama,
Thank you very much for the additional information. I also look forward to comments of those who go and their impressions!
Thankx @sama for the info, I went on to the janadriya website (arabic) and the times for the families (March 24 – Mar 31) is however different to what you stated :
It is from 4.00pm to 12.00pm
Hope this is correct – as we plan to come all the way from dhahran !
Mushy, you’re welcome. Here’s an article from Arab News with the schedule:
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article31813.ece
But it’s the dates set aside for families that’s creating a bit of confusion. Another article stated that the festival opens for families from March 27.
Do get a definite confirmation before you head out here and enjoy your visit! =)
Yeah its very confusing…. do not even know whom to contact for confirmation
Thank you @sama for info anyways.
Mushy, I had a look at the website, yes, for families it will be from 24/3/2010 to 31/3/2010. Time: 4:00pm to 12:00am. Hope it is correct. I thinking of going with the family too.