Discover traditional Arabian hospitality at the Saudi Cultural Days festival Sept. 26-28
The legendary tradition of Arabian hospitality is coming to the National Capital Region, as the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia presents the Saudi Cultural Days festival Sept. 26-27 at Ottawa Welcomes the World, part of the year-long Ottawa 2017 celebrations. The main portion of the festival will take place in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park and feature an exhibition on Saudi culture, art and heritage. The festival continues the following day, Sept. 28, with a Saudi folklore performance on Parliament Hill from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
For more than 30 years, under the direction of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia has been organizing Saudi Cultural Days festivals around the world. The main objectives of the festivals are to highlight Saudi traditions and to bring a message of peace, love and prosperity.
These events are scheduled years in advance, and have been held in countries throughout the world, including Spain, Italy, Indonesia, China, India, France and England, as well as one time previously in Canada in the early ’90s.
“It gives me great pleasure, as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to share with you the Saudi Cultural Days, held by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa,” said His Excellency Naif Bin Bandir Alsudairy.
The Saudi Cultural Days festival will demonstrate the Saudi traditions of generosity and hospitality. From Saudi coffee that is offered to friends and strangers alike, to burning incense as a sign to welcome guests, to Saudi folk music; all such traditions deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia will be on display. Other highlights at the festival will include a traditional tent, handicrafts, folk dance shows and music, a fine arts exhibition, Arabic calligraphy demonstrations, a henna design corner, a children’s corner and popular Saudi cuisine.
Preparation for this year’s festival has been underway for a long time. “An event such as this requires a tremendous amount of planning, organizing and coordinating,” said H.E. Alsudairy. “With our Canadian counterparts there is the matter of booking appropriate venues and receiving the required documentations and approvals. I would like to add that the Embassy is very grateful for the efforts of the City of Ottawa and the organizational committee of Ottawa 2017 for its assistance and support.”
Indeed, a delegation of over 60 men, women and children are travelling from Saudi Arabia to Ottawa to participate in the Saudi Cultural Days festival. Professional performers will be representing the dances of different regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and playing traditional musical instruments such as the oud, a short-neck, pear-shaped string instrument. As well, the children will be presenting different traditional dresses unique to each region of Saudi Arabia. The children will also chat about life in their country with Ottawa students visiting the festival.
“It is our hope that this exhibition will highlight the friendship between Saudi Arabia and Canada and will provide a multicultural platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s rich traditions, culture and crafts of the Kingdom,” said H.E. Alsudairy. “It will also underline the generosity and hospitality of the Saudi people. We think that events such as this bring people closer. In particular, it will help our friends in Canada see a different side to the kingdom. I would like, as the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Canada, to invite our Canadian friends to be part of our celebrations. We look forward seeing you there.”
For more information on the Saudi Cultural Days festival, visit www. saudiembassy.ca
It is our hope that this exhibition will highlight the friendship between Saudi Arabia and Canada and will provide a multicultural platform to showcase the rich traditions, culture and crafts of the Kingdom.