09 April 2023
Curtain Fell on the 29th Edition of Bahrain Annual Heritage Festival, Organized by Bahrain Culture Authority and celebrated Ramadan Customs this year
The multicolored social and cultural events and activities scheduled by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities as part of the 29th edition of the Bahrain Annual Heritage Festival came to end and on 8 April 2023. The event was indeed held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, May Allah Protect Him, in Al Baraha Market in Diyar Muharraq for four consecutive nights. The annual heritage festival kicked off on the Qargaoun night, under the title "Ramadan Customs", during which Bahrain Culture Authority presented a diverse bouquet of events that shed light on many aspects of the Kingdom's cultural heritage and its relationship to the holy month of Ramadan.
Indeed, the Bahrain Culture Authority stated that the festival this year, which concluded on Saturday, sought to emphasize the authenticity of Ramadan customs and their connection with the identity, culture and heritage of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Generational past traditions that are passed through by Bahrainis are genuine expressions of their love and attachment to the spirit of the holy month; Bahrainis adhere to and inherit from generation to generation despite the changes that occurred in the contemporary way of life. In addition, Bahrain Culture Authority extended its thanks to all the festival's supporters and contributors to it, and to Al-Baraha Market, which hosted the festival and provided all facilities for its success and organization.
Noteworthy also that this year’s edition shed light on Ramadan customs, namely qergaoun, family gatherings, magic, folk games, Iftar breakfast cannon, Ramadan trip and popular foods.
This year's events included popular arts evenings by well-known Bahraini bands such as Dar Bin Harban Band, Dar Shabab Al-Riffa Band, Dar Al-Riffa Al-Ouda Band and Ismail Dawas Band. Moreover, the festival scheduled events and activities for children and families, such as face-painting, traditional games such as Al-Laqfa, Al-Madud, Al-Dawama, Al-Teela, and others, in addition to Al-Hazawi (folk tales) presented by Professor Muhammad Yassin, known as (Baba Yassin), and the artist Salwa Bakhit, known locally as (Umm Hlal). With the distinguished participation of Ms. Fatima Al-Aziz.
In addition, the Heritage Festival also featured a number of competitions organized to entertain the public with valuable prizes, sponsored by Asghar Ali Perfumes, Junaid perfumes, Ajmal perfumes, Dadabai Travel, Gulf Hotel, and Intercontinental Regency Hotel Bahrain.
Moreover, the festival, as usual, has dedicated a special section for crafts and handicrafts, and includes: kurar, cash, palm leaf paper, built-in boxes industry, goldsmithing, textile weaving, shipbuilding, gypsum engraving, metal industry and pottery industry, where the public can watch the artisans in action directly and learn these crafts are based on inherited techniques and years of experience.
This year’s edition of the heritage festival also featured many products of the “Made in Bahrain” project of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, which is a phrase about products for different traditional crafts and industries. Visitors can also taste famous Bahraini food directly made by the productive families, such as luqaimat, khanfroush, regag bread, and others. Indeed a popular market for selling Bahraini products from local projects, where these projects provided the public with necessities that every Bahraini house knows, such as coffee, perfumes, and types of well-known cooking ingredients made and commercialized directly by productive families.
