Janadriyah Cultural Festival

Every year in Riyadh the Janadriyah Festival comes to town.  There is a large fairground area outside the city that is only used once a year to host this.  People come in from all the different regions to showcase what their region is famous for.  I went with some teachers after school one day to check it out.  Here are people showing how to make baskets:

 Some people were doing pottery:

People from the Eastern province made their living by fishing and pearl diving so they showcased their ships and netting:

In the background a guy is playing a traditional musical instrument called the Rababah that was used by the Bedouins to help recount their poetry of love and war.  You can see the different displays of Saudi life:

There were many women's dresses showcased, and most were used out in the desert before the law came into effect that all women must wear the abaya:

 There was an old man spinning straw into thread to make hammock style beds:

 We ate some traditional food and wandered around.  Some women were selling little trinkets and it was fun to chat with people and make new friends.

 I also got a henna tattoo.  When a woman gets married her friends will put henna all over her arms and legs but I just wanted a little bit done.  During that week many of my students came to class with henna that they got from the festival.  It only lasts about 2 weeks before it fades and disappears:

 In another building there were men making all sorts of drinks and food.  I was given samples of sweet drinks and cookies made from the abundant dates and honey that this area is famous for.  There was a place to buy different varieties of dates:

 You could also get different kinds of honey from the mountains near the city of Abha.  The honey here is simply amazing:

 At the end of the night the dancers and drummers come out:

It was nice to be able to sit down and watch a show after walking around all day and I always learned new things about Saudi culture and customs at this festival.