The Janadriyah Festival is a 2 week long episode that occurs every year in the city of Riyadh. A heritage and cultural celebration, it is organized by the National Guards. The distinct culture and traditions of every province in Saudi Arabia is displayed through the means of songs, dance, craft, architecture, cuisine and various other methods. This year’s festival occurred on the 8th of February and was opened by King Abdullah. The festival takes place 30km north of the east of Riyadh.
Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia and is home to almost 5 million people. A bustling city, it has the world’s largest female university. With over 4,300 mosques, the city has many customs and traditions that are strongly influenced by Islamic religious beliefs. Though Najdi dialect is the speech of the region, English is also widely spoken and understood.
Every year a theme that is specific to one province is selected so that it can be featured prominently. It’s almost like a healthy competition and one festival even had the province going to great lengths to create a replica of the old Medinah. Every year, a host country is also asked to participate in the festival so as to give it an international flavour.
Camel racing is another important feature of the festival where close to 2,000 camels race. There is also a horse racing and endurance event as well as the very popular operetta. If you are a tourist then it is important to remember that the activities are segregated to men only, women only and family events. Checking about the category of every event prior to your arrival is a good way to plan your schedule.
Saudi Arabia is known for its many opulent hotels, each competing to outdo the other. Raffles Makkah Palace is owned and managed by the prestigious international chain of Raffles hotels; one that is known world over for its luxurious and classy hospitality. Famous among Makkah hotel, it is surrounded by many holy sites. Hotels in Mecca are many as they have to cater to the needs of the many travellers who come on the holy pilgrimage.
