Janadriyah Pics from 2014

Janadriyah is an annual cultural heritage festival celebrating the regions, history, arts, and culture of Saudi Arabia.  It is held in an area on the outskirts of Riyadh for a period of several weeks during the winter months, with many permanent structures and buildings just for the festival. I've been able to attend the festival twice and I hope I can again in the future.

I love photos like the top one that shows how friendly and happy Saudi women are.  I think many people have the wrong idea about what Saudi women are really like. I find them to be warm and kind, welcoming and gracious, intelligent and motivated, creative and talented.  I could actually go on and on, as more words keep coming to me to describe them, but you get the idea.   

The gold coin face veil I am holding up in the bottom photo is worn for special occasions, like festivals or weddings.  And it jingles!

Thanks to my firend and fellow blogger Laura/Blue Abaya for taking the photos in this post. 

If you are interested in seeing a slideshow of lovely scenes from the Janadriyah Festival, just click on the box below.

Janadriyah 2013 from Susie Khalil

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Riyadh: Janadriyah Boys

The annual cultural festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is called Janadriyah.  There are many exhibitions and activities which highlight life in Saudi Arabia, such as native crafts, male ceremonial dances, food, poetry, games, costumes, camel racing, and other entertainment.

These handsome young men are wearing typical winter wear for boys and men in the country, consisting of a dark thobe and the red and white headdress.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please visit BLUE ABAYA'S Guide to the Janadriyah Festival 2014 (where you will also find a photo of me at this year's festival!), and her post from last year called The Top Ten Things to do at the Janadriyah Festival.

Saudi Arabia: Artisan Jeweler

A silversmith is on hand to demonstrate his talents at the annual festival of culture and heritage in Riyadh called Janadriyah.  Many artisans displayed their skills in such dying arts as basket weaving and woodworking. I published a post on my other blog with a slideshow of photos from this year's event, which was held in April.  CLICK HERE to see it.

Janadriyah: Saudi Artisan Basket Weaver

This is another basket weaver artisan at work, demonstrating his skills at the Janadriyah Festival, which is a celebration of culture and heritage held every year in Riyadh.  I published a post on my other blog with a slideshow of photos from this year's event, which was held in April.  CLICK HERE to see it.

Janadriyah: Basket Maker

Artisans of the old arts and trades are featured at Janadriyah, the yearly celebration of culture and heritage held in Riyadh.  These arts are dying here in Saudi Arabia.  I published a post on my other blog with a slideshow of photos from this year's event, which was held in April.  CLICK HERE to see it.

Janadriyah Flower Power

This is a handmade flower headband sold at the annual Janadriyah Festival in Riyadh.  I just published a post on my other blog that has a slideshow of photos from this year's event, which was held in April.  CLICK HERE to see it.

Saudi Artisan: Wood Bowl Carver

The Janadriyah Festival is a cultural heritage festival held every year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  This year the festival attracted a record high six million visitors during the month of April - and I was one of them!  I was fortunate that I happened to be in Riyadh and attended with my fellow blogger and friend, Layla who, like me, writes two blogs about living in Saudi Arabia:  Blue Abaya and her photo blog, Images of Saudi. 

Traditional handicrafts are a fading art in Saudi Arabia, however there are still some artisans who try to keep the trades alive. The man in this post is a wood carver and his specialty is bowls.  Here are some other articles about the Janadriyah Festival.

Arab News: A Record 6 Million Visit Janadriyah Festival


Splendid Arabia: Janadriyah and the Festival of Heritage

Arab News:  Traditional handmade headbands set trend at Janadriyah Festival

Blue Abaya: Expats Guide to Janadriyah

Blue Abaya: Why I love Janadriyah

Blue Abaya: Top Ten Things to do at Janadriyah 

Today is the first of the month, which means it's theme day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers from around the world, sharing the wonders of their area of the world pictorially with others.  Each month there are different themes that CDP members can participate in.  This month's theme is "The Creative Artisan"  

Please visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day of "The Creative Artisan."