By Fahad Al-Enezi
KUWAIT, Sept 16 (KUNA) -- Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammad Sharar welcomed Tuesday the Gulf contribution to the coming edition of Kuwait's popular heritage festival, planned early December.
"The Gulf participation will enrich and give momentum to the festival and foster love and better people-to-people relations," Sharar told reporters during a tour by the organizing committee and several Gulf delegations to the festival's venue, Sheikh Sabah Cultural Village.
He pointed out that the organizing committee has allocated a building for each participating country to exhibit its heritage, especially models of ancient markets.
"This will acquaint youth with the diversity and richness of the Kuwait and Gulf culture and heritage," he said, noting that over 130,000 people visited Sheikh Cultural Village last year.
He unveiled that that an artificial lake was built inside the village on an area of 13,000 square meters to for activities to highlight the maritime heritage of Kuwait and the Gulf countries.
In addition to the traditional camels, sheep and horses and hawks competition, the festival will host poetry and cultural contests, Sharar said.
He went on to say that the festival will also have a number of restaurants providing with traditional meals. "The festival will be a panorama for Gulf heritage in the desert of Kuwait," he concluded.
He stressed that the village has become a cultural landmark to people of Kuwait and the GCC thanks to the support of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
For his part, Head of festival competitions arbitration committee Sheikh Sabah Al-Fahad Al Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah said the Gulf participation, especially in galleries and cultural exhibitions, will increase the success of the festival.
He disclosed that the coming edition will be held for longer period, nearly 70 days and will include new activities.
The organizing committee will open the door of registration to participate in the various competitions in mid-November, he said.
Meanwhile, head of the Saudi delegation Mohammad Aidaroos lauded the efforts exerted to prepare for the festival.
"The preparations indicate that the coming edition would be exceptional," he said after touring the festival venue.
"This Kuwaiti cultural event enjoys a remarkable reputation in all Gulf states." Head of the Omani delegation Ali Mahrooqi also expressed admiration of the Cultural Village and the preparations for the festival.
Oman will set a makeshift museum at the Cultural village during the Festival to showcase a number of its traditional products and artifacts, he said.
For his part, the envoy of the Qatari Ministry of Culture of the festival Faisal Al-Suwaidi praised the distinctive development in Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Cultural Village.
He underlined the importance of such cultural events in strengthening pan-Gulf relations. (end) fsa.nfa.ibi