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Helen Betts | profile | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> Janadriyah: A Celebration of Saudi Culture tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Janadriyah: A Celebration of Saudi Culture

Janadriyah is a huge festival celebrating Saudi culture and heritage held annually for two weeks in a village of the same name on the outskirts of Riyadh, drawing at least 80,000 visitors a day and 1 million over the course of the fortnight.

I had heard about this festival during my first days in the country and couldn’t wait for it to take place. Finally, the big day arrived, and a large group of us were scheduled to be taken on an official and escorted tour of the festival, when suddenly, two hours before departure time, the trip was canceled due to lack of available transportation. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, but I did learn something about the culture when that happened, which after all, was the point of going. So a small group of us decided to go the next day on our own, just as normal visitors to the event, and we had a wonderful time. The following day, though, the official trip was on again, so we all went again for a guided tour, complete with very gracious hosts and a security detail to make sure we all stuck together. (I think I drove them crazy because I kept wandering off and falling behind to take pictures; finally one security person was assigned just to me to make sure I didn’t get lost. At the end of the day, we shook hands and had a good laugh about my wayward ways ;-)).

In looking over my many pictures from the festival, there don’t seem to be any “grand” images, just my impressions of the two days, with an emphasis on the many people I saw, which to me was the most fascinating part of the event. I don't even know where to begin or how to arrange the gallery, so I guess somewhat chronologically makes the most sense.

Some information on Janadriyah is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenadriyah and http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2013/apr/04/janadriyah-heritage-festival-saudi-identity and a short video of this year’s even from Arab News is here http://www.arabnews.com/janadriyah-festival-2014
Official decor
Official decor
Camel rides
Camel rides
Performers
Performers
Tribal dance (and video clip)
Tribal dance (and video clip)
Towering
Towering
Ministry of Interior pavilion
Ministry of Interior pavilion
Airborne
Airborne
Bull's eye
Bull's eye
Desert architecture
Desert architecture
Atrium
Atrium
Date feast
Date feast
Front door
Front door
Traditional door
Traditional door
Framed
Framed
More than 100 varieties of dates
More than 100 varieties of dates
Qassim date market
Qassim date market
Feast for date lovers
Feast for date lovers
Qassim pavilion
Qassim pavilion
Festival grounds
Festival grounds
Making a purchase
Making a purchase
Gateway
Gateway
New take on desert architecture
New take on desert architecture
Tribal dance
Tribal dance
Appreciative audience
Appreciative audience
Handsome window
Handsome window
Low seating
Low seating
Open-air market
Open-air market
Art, women's pavilion
Art, women's pavilion
Two women
Two women
Place to relax
Place to relax
Elegant
Elegant
Bedouin tent
Bedouin tent
Shopping
Shopping
Recitation
Recitation
Handicrafts
Handicrafts
Elaborate dress
Elaborate dress
Demo
Demo
Trying to make a sale
Trying to make a sale
Basketweavers
Basketweavers
The gift
The gift
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Traditional craftsmen
Instant friends
Instant friends
Cultural icon
Cultural icon
Cultural exchange
Cultural exchange
Not a happy camper (1)
Not a happy camper (1)
Not a happy camper (2)
Not a happy camper (2)
Day's end
Day's end
Intermission
Intermission
Schoolboys
Schoolboys
Traveling in style
Traveling in style
Watching
Watching
Classroom
Classroom
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
In the marketplace
Unique ceiling
Unique ceiling
Traditional door
Traditional door
Domed
Domed
Jeddah pavilion
Jeddah pavilion
Jeddah pavilion
Jeddah pavilion
Smiling eyes
Smiling eyes
The real thing
The real thing
The sandal maker
The sandal maker
The brass seller
The brass seller
The spice man
The spice man
The look
The look
The bakers
The bakers
Friend and friend
Friend and friend
Falcon trainer
Falcon trainer
UAE pavilion
UAE pavilion
Emirates treasure
Emirates treasure
Henna artistry
Henna artistry
Woman in burqa
Woman in burqa
Whirling performance
Whirling performance
Sunset ceramics
Sunset ceramics
House from Makkah
House from Makkah
Makkah house
Makkah house
Makkah house
Makkah house
Colorful room
Colorful room
Green shutter
Green shutter
The green door
The green door
Handicrafts
Handicrafts
Streetside vendor
Streetside vendor
Really getting into it
Really getting into it
Impressive
Impressive
Photographing them photographing us
Photographing them photographing us
Hosts
Hosts
The grand view
The grand view
The last pavilion
The last pavilion
The end of the festival...
The end of the festival...