From changing the location of the inauguration ceremony to the activities presented at the festival, Saleha Al-Otaibi, head of the Women's Heritage committee at the Janadriyah promises that this year's festival will be refreshing, new and organized. “This year we have changed a lot of things, from the location of the inauguration to the activities at the festival,” said Otaibi during a press conference held Thursday afternoon. The inauguration ceremony will take place on Friday the 14th March at the King Fahd Cultural Center. The past 22 years the women's inauguration ceremony took place at the main hall in the center of the Janadriyah village 47 kilometers from Riyadh. Princess Nouf Bint Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will inaugurate the festival at 7:30 P.M. Friday night. “By having it at King Fahd Cultural Center we will be reducing the crowd, inviting more guests and insuring that all organizers are female,” explained Otaibi. The main hall at the Janadriyah festival seated 800 guests while the King Fahd Cultural Center seats 3000. In an attempt to bring the Janadriyah cultural and heritage village's atmosphere to the ceremony, a lobby of the center will be transformed into a Janadriyah replica with craftswomen quietly making their goods. “We will also have a Saudi cuisine section where traditional dishes are made for visitors to sample,” said Otaibi. Princesses, royals, wives of ministers, heads of universities, hospitals and high ranking officials will be attending the inaugurations along with female staff and wives of diplomatic missions. “Our foreign guests will be able to sample what the festival is all about, and if they like what they see, we will organize their visit to the Village,” said Otaibi. With Turkey being the honorary guest of this year's festival, a Turkish folklore dance will follow the inauguration. A social comical play will follow, preceded by a fashion show of all the traditional dresses of the various regions of the Kingdom. Traditional Saudi drumming music will also be displayed through musical bands from different parts of the Kingdom. The inauguration ceremony will last till 1a.m. Then the Festival will be open for the female public to visit at Janadriyah Village on the 17th to 19th March from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the Village children plays, acts, coloring activities and competition will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the main hall. “These activities are to imbed in the children love of their own heritage through enjoyment,” said Otaibi. At the Village female visitors will be able to walk around various forts of the Kingdom, presenting the traditional arts, crafts, silver making, spice grinding and many other traditional craftsmanship. __
