Province
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Jouf Festival
| The festival lasts two weeks; one for men, one for women. Activities occurring during the festival include a 15km camel racing, competitions for best male and female camel and for highest milk yield |
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Although this ceased for a period in the 1410sH (1990sG), it has recently been restored into the Province’s regional events calendar.
The festival includes events in Sakakah, Dawmat Al Jandal, Al Qurayat and Tabarjal. In Sakakah, it takes place in five locations including the cultural center, the main sports club, camel and horse races tracks, the Ladies Village and the Al Jouf Science House.
It attracts primarily local participants, but also a few visitors from other regions and expatriates.
Activities occurring during the festival include a 15km camel racing, competitions for best male and female camel and for highest milk yield. As well as farming events based around the olive cultivation in the area. Traditional food and handicraft events are also held.
There are exhibitions of Sadu weaving (unique to Al Jouf) with the Al Shararat tribe particularly active in this area. A local training programme for women is seeking to re-introduce these skills in the Sakakah area. Production of traditional handicrafts have declined particularly in the last 10 to 15 years since the desert communities have become less nomadic and adopted an urban lifestyle.
Displays also show how the distinctive colors are achieved using 'burnooq' a springtime desert toadstool which was used as a mordant ( a substance for fixing colors to cloth) and a dye.
This annual festival is now coordinated by two committees (one for men, one for women) that include representation from the Amarah, the Alsudairy Foundation and other relevant organizations |
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