NEW DELHI: Saudi scouts arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to participate, for the first time, in India’s Republic Day camp.
Girls and boys from the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association are joining the annual cadets’ camp alongside official events commemorating the day on which India’s Constitution came into effect on Jan. 26, 1950.
The camp this year is expected to see more than 20 delegations from all over the world.
The Saudi delegation comprises two officers and 11 cadets — three of them girls.
“This year, we have the maximum participation of the foreign countries … The Saudis are coming here for the first time. They have never been here before,” a spokesperson of the National Cadet Corps, which organizes the camp, told Arab News.
During their two weeks in India, the cadets will explore several historical cities. On Jan. 27, they will take part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally and march.
Besides Delhi, they will visit Jaipur, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the “pink city” due to the dominant color scheme of its 18th-century structures.
They will also go to Agra to see the iconic Taj Mahal — a white-marble mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1648 in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
“The cadets are here to interact with our cadets, exchange the best ideas and practices, have cultural exchanges,” the NCC spokesperson said. “This is a very healthy cultural mix.”
The Saudi Arabian Scouts Association said its members will give a cultural show during their visit, showing the customs, arts and cuisines of various parts of the Kingdom.
“The association is keen to participate in such events due to its desire to contribute to highlighting Saudi identity and culture, which would strengthen the bonds of friendship with different cultures,” it said in a statement.
