The Arabian Peninsula is rich in diverse cultures. From the East to the West and from the North to the South, every single part of the area has a unique culture.
Starting from the Mesopotamian or Sumerian ages and ending with the pre-Islamic era, all these cultures remain immortal in the hearts of millions of Arabs in the area and worldwide.
While many countries find themselves limited to celebrate their culture (or find a loophole to celebrate it for a couple of days), the Janadriyah Festival (hosted in the Dirah area) has allocated two weeks for this cultural program to take place.
Old songs about the inner warrior spirit, social unity, and so on are sung at the festival. They are composed of nothing more than a daff (an Arabian drum) and an oud (an Arabian form of guitar). The vocals have no limits and the swords they swing brings an aura of unity and companionship. The dances are on up and down rhythms which align the beats of the daff. Eye-catching dresses woven by hand with various tribal patterns fling in the air and the Arabian musk clouds the atmosphere.
Souvenir shops are lined up with pottery and items and have queues in front of them which show no signs of reducing. Shops filled with delicious feasts shower the air with the smell of the spices and herbs which waters the mouth. Kabsa, mandi, baklava, basbousa, and such delicacies are lined up for the customers to consume to their hearts content. Various smells of Bakhoor, Musk and many set their boundaries and bring a peaceful sensation to the nose.
During my visit to Janadriyah back in 2008, I found myself blending into the culture. No matter where you are from, the culture will put you into a trance and will absorb you with open arms. The Arabian spirit that lingers in the area with the cultures blaring at full force, just made me want to visit this festival every year.
Many non-Arab countries have joined the Janadriyah. In 2010, the French Republic participated in Janadriyah 25, South Korea in Janadriyah (2011) are examples of how this culture brings in non-Arabian cultures to showcase themselves among Arabs. It is true when they say that cultures do not show any kind of extremism or separation because culture is something that tolerates people of all ethnicities.
This festival brings not only the Saudi cultures and traditions but also the traditions of the entire Peninsula. The blending of traditions showcases the unity of Arabs in the previous eras. The Western part of Saudi Arabia was under the sister empire of Mesopotamia, known as Dilmun. Najran, Abha, Al Qassim, and many such places have unique cultures despite being in one single land. Meanwhile, other Arabian countries like Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait also find the chances of showcasing their cultures.
The Janadriyah festival is held every year, usually in February and lasts for two weeks. The preparations start a couple of months before the announcement of the festival by the Ministry of Culture. Tourists find themselves travelling back in time to the era when the concept of separation never even came into their minds.
If you ever get the chance to visit Saudi Arabia, make sure to participate in and enjoy Janadriyah to capture the ambience and spirit of the festival fully.