Time’s ripe to taste half-ripe dates at Capital’s Liwa festival
abu dhabi — Liwa Dates Festival, the celebration of half-ripened ‘ratab’, began in Al Dhafra region on Wednesday. Over the next 10 days, hundreds of farmers will try to convince the judges on products from their orchard being worthy of a share of Dh5.2 million cash rewards.
Produce from the renowned dates farms to newbies are on display at the biggest festival of its kind. Festival director Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei is expecting to see up to 2,500 participations in the various categories of the best dates competitions.
Raed Mohamad, factory manager, Al Maqtaa Dates Factory is out there grabbing eyeballs with his 45-kg bunch of jabri dates.
“We also have pickles, juices and jams. We are in this business from 2011. Such festivals are great plat- form for us,” Mohamad said.
There are also first-timers like Rieed Hoshya, who is from Palestine. “Taste Palestine medjool and one will surely return for more,” said Hoshya, who will test Indian markets next month.
There is also Emirati heritage model competitions and the section is laden with stalls depicting the practices of fishing, falconry, camel, traditional homes with women and children, and the like.
Also, there is Traditional Souq section where scores of Emirati women are displaying clothes, handicrafts and food items. The festival is doing its bit to preserving Emirati customs and traditions.
Traditional songs and dances will add the much-needed zest to the festival, organisers said.
The festival is held by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee — Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and with the support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region.
The festival runs till July 29 and entry is free.