It starts tomorrow and lasts 10 days in Abu Dhabi
«Al-Hosn Festival» .. a journey through time in the history of the country
The heritage area reflects the past of the Emirates, which is still continuing in the daily life of the community, such as handicrafts, songs and performances.
Photography: Eric Arazas
Randa bin Haidar: "This year, the festival carries the perspective of a vivid expression of Abu Dhabi culture, to focus on events and activities that embody the history and reality of life in the emirate."
picture
Over the course of 10 days, visitors can take a trip through time to the past, to learn about life in Abu Dhabi in the past decades, through the Al Hosn Festival, which returns again from January 13 to 22, organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, in buildings The historic Al Hosn area and its outer squares, with the aim of highlighting the emirate's cultural heritage and traditional crafts, as well as displaying creative works and contemporary artistic experiences.
This year, the festival carries the perspective of "a vivid expression of the culture of Abu Dhabi", to focus on events and activities that embody the history and reality of life in the emirate, and celebrate the UAE's heritage.
According to the Director of Cultural Events and Platforms Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, Randa bin Haidar, during the media tour that was organized yesterday morning at the festival's headquarters in its new edition, which opens its doors tomorrow for visitors.
main areas
Randa bin Haidar explained that this year the festival includes three main areas, which are the heritage area, and the fort represents its center, and reflects the past of the Emirates, which is still continuing in the daily life of society, such as handicrafts, songs and performances, to convey the image of Abu Dhabi in the past to the visitors of the place.
As for the second area, it is the crafts area that mediates the site, and is managed and supervised by the House of Craftsmen, and focuses on introducing traditional crafts, not only in the Emirates, but in the Gulf region in general, through several platforms and events, such as the Craftsmen Council, which includes three experiences, which are: Making baskets, bashouts, and daggers is a craft associated with men, in contrast to other traditional crafts associated with women, such as talli, al-Sadu, and others.
And the Arab Coffee Championships, which expanded this year to include countries in which Arabic coffee is part of their heritage. The jury includes members from sister countries, such as the Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others, which makes the competition stronger.
The Crafts District also includes a large number of shops and restaurants that originated in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
In addition to the bazaar area, which includes traditional products, but with a modern character, and is implemented by productive families and owners of small projects residing in the Emirates, and the number of participants in the bazaar reaches 30 exhibitors.
In addition to the companies participating in the second edition of the "Treasures of Abu Dhabi" initiative, which honors the owners of projects that originated in Abu Dhabi in the past, are still continuing, and have become part of the social fabric of the capital.
There is also a theater in the area that will host artistic groups, chosen from residents of the country, provided that the works are in the Arabic language to encourage preserving and adhering to the Arabic language.
As for the third area in the festival, it bears the name of the community, and its center is the Cultural Complex building, and it reflects the modern character of Abu Dhabi, and includes a number of events, including a music performance on the falaj, which is organized in the “Al Hosn Corniche” area, which is characterized by the presence of a number of restaurants that carry a vision and new ideas. And different Emirati cuisine and food.
The community area also witnesses many interactive shows and workshops for family members.
new programs
Randa bin Haidar indicated the introduction of three new programs in the Heritage Area, which represent rich live and interactive experiences for festival-goers, which is the traditional wedding that takes place in Al-Fareej daily (9 o’clock in the evening), and it is a live show of wedding traditions in the past, embodied by members of the Yas Theater team, and includes scenes Different in different locations in the festival, reflecting the preparations that precede the wedding, such as “buying gold” and “the queen” and other rituals.
As for the second program, it is the kitchen, in partnership with a number of Emirati popular kitchens, and gives an opportunity for visitors to taste samples of traditional Emirati food, as they exchange dirhams for “rupees”, which is the currency that was prevalent in the past in the Emirates, from the cashier in the place.
While the third program bears the title “Darb Al-Zein”, and it represents an interactive experience that includes a path for men and another for women, and the women’s path leads to the women’s council in the House of Craftsmen, in which everything related to Emirati traditional costumes such as costume, incense, henna and burqa, as well as the possibility of photography at the end of the path.
As for the men's track, he walks them between the market shops, providing an explanation of the Emirati men's fashion, and the participants can buy whatever they want.
In addition to a track dedicated to children, it includes various activities, through which they learn about the Emirati dress and its associated customs and traditions, as well as the history and types of embroidery and inscriptions in both women's and men's costumes.
For her part, Aisha Khansaheb, Head of the Programs Unit at Qasr Al Hosn, reviewed the most prominent events in the place, foremost of which are the Palace Memories exhibition, the Crafts Tunes exhibition, heritage photo sessions, the activities of us and our ancestors, the secret café experience, and others.
While a community program specialist at the House of Craftsmen, Latifa Al Shamsi, spoke about the house’s participation in the various events and activities included in the event, including “Darb Al-Zein”, works of art by Emirati artists, the participation of the Al-Ghadeer project, and the Mira project, which is affiliated with the Fatima bint Mohammed bin Zayed project, which targets Supporting women farmers and needy women in Afghanistan.
• The Craft Zone focuses on introducing traditional crafts not only in the Emirates, but in the Gulf region in general, through several platforms and events.
• Rich live experiences that the festival will present, including the traditional wedding that is organized daily in Al-Fareej, and it is a live show of wedding traditions in the past, embodied by members of the Yas Theater team.
• 30 exhibitors, who will be gathered in the bazaar area, which includes traditional products, but with a modern character.
Participants and talents
The events and activities of the Al Hosn Festival are distributed over 10 regions, with the participation of 58 craftsmen, 50 actors and performers, distributed over 16 working groups, in addition to 120 young talents participating in the “My Talent” program for students, and eight artists and musical groups that present various performances, including nine Emirati music performances.
The number of participating volunteers is 130 male and female volunteers.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news