TAIF: The Makkah governorate is planning to make the annual festival at Souk Okaz, a location 40 kilometers north of Taif, a major cultural attraction. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is expected to inaugurate the festival, which begins next month.
The opening event will feature an operetta with the participation of celebrated Arab singers and artists, Al-Jazirah daily reported yesterday.
There will also be art exhibitions, lectures and, of course, souks for shopping.
More than 2,000 eminent Arab thinkers, writers, poets, historians and other cultural activists inside and outside the Kingdom, participated in the festival last year.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, himself a renowned poet, is keen on reviving the historic glory of the Souk Okaz festival, which is associated with the development of classical Arabic poetry. He is also determined to make it a great center of tourism in the summer season.
“This place has huge tourist potential as it is associated with the ancient souk where the poets of different tribes in the Arabian Peninsula used to compete and select the best Arabic poet,” said Taysir Al-Dabit, a local citizen.
He added that the moderate weather in Taif is another factor that would attract both domestic and foreign tourists, particularly Arab tourists.
Efforts are being made to make Okaz a major Arab cultural center, similar to Carthage in Tunisia and Jarash in Jordan.
In a previous statement, Prince Khaled said the traditional Souk Okaz provides an insight into the ancient Arab culture.
“Arabs in the past were depending on poetry, more than any other literary form, to express their emotions. Poetry is the history of Arabs,” said Prince Khaled.
The prince heads several committees set up to make the festival a great success.
