Jeddah Historical Festival (مھرجان جدۃ التاريخية)

Balad District is hosting Jeddah's first ever Heritage Festival lately...there's hype about it all over Jeddah and people are swarming to watch the attractions at the festival with great enthusiasm.

Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and Prince Sultan bin Salman, head of the SCTA, open the Jeddah cultural festival.

Making traditional sweets the traditional way

It is scheduled to entertain and educate people about the rich cultural inheritance of Jeddah for 10 days. Not that great a duration, but it is a move grand enough to revive the almost-diminishing cultural awareness in the (especially Saudi) youth. People in Jeddah seem quite carried away by Western culture lately....lets hope this festival will help in the revival of Saudi Arabian Culture.

The carpenters gorgeous yachts

They chose a rather old district to host the festival, its not one of those well-developed sites, but was the perfect point to host an event displaying history and heritage...since its loaded with old architectural buildings and the oh-so-famous Balad Museum.

Traditional Jewellery

There wasn't as much on display as we expected the first day, but they say its going to get really striking by the following weekend. Despite the limited historical display, it still was interesting. 

Ladies' Traditional Outfit on display

They displayed the rural Hijazi housing style featuring antique furniture, utensils, electronic appliances and their living habits. They portrayed dressing style of men (thobs) and women (jalabiyaat), everyday tasks like fetching water, selling fruits and stuff like that. Then there were stands and booths of traditional snacks, sweets, bread, jewellery, handicrafts, artwork etc.

Here are some captures of the event:

Yes, that antique ambulance!

The locksmith's corner

Giant lock & the key

And finally, the paper artwork
(Media Partners' names underneath)

Update: Here's where you'll find all the most recent updates regarding the festival http://historicjeddah.com/

Stop Neglecting Fajr

Things to remind myself when shaytaan tempts me to neglect Fajr prayer:

1 - Islam is about submitting your will to Allah. Submit, and you shall rejoice.
2 - Live now, rest later.
3 - The 2 sunnahs of Fajr are better than the world and everything in it.
4 - Fajr is your first battle against the shaytaan everyday. You win it, you win the day!
5 - The harder you struggle, the more reward you reap.
6 - You skip it one day, the next day you'll be weaker and shaytaan will be stronger. You might skip it again and again until it becomes your habit.