Spectacular fireworks mark opening of honey fest

Baha Gov. Prince Mishari bin Saud opened the Fifth Baha International Honey Festival and Baljurashi Summer Festival yesterday. He also opened an exhibition being held at the venue of Baljurashi Shopping Festival.
Prince Mishari opened the festival by cutting the ribbon and then toured the exhibition pavilions. These included pavilions of fine arts, Yemeni products, and productive families as well as a blood donation clinic.
The governor also visited the heritage village, where shops sold heritage items, and an old photos exhibition.
In the opening ceremony several prominent figures, including Prince Saud bin Muhammad, director of youth activities and festivals at the Ministry of Culture and Information, and Hamid Al-Shammari, undersecretary at the governorate, participated. Prince Mishari took part in the traditional Ardha dance held at the end of the ceremony.
There was also a spectacular display of fireworks. Speaking to reporters, the governor said that the festival coincides with the summer season when a large number of holidaymakers and tourists flock to the region.
“This resulted in full occupancy in hotels, furnished apartments and tourism shelters,” he said, adding that some programs of the festival have been canceled in memory of late Crown Prince Naif. Ahmad Al-Khazim, chairman of the organizing committee, said that more than 50 exhibitors from the Kingdom and abroad are showcasing their products in the five-day event.
The Beekeepers Cooperative Society is organizing the festival jointly with Abdullah Bughshan Chair for Bee Research at King Saud University and Baha University, with support of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
Al-Khazim said the festival aims at enhancing the level of knowledge among beekeepers about the industry and help them market their products through making them aware of various marketing and packaging techniques and methods.
Beekeepers from countries taking part in the festival include those from Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Sudan and Ethiopia.
The Turkish Beekeepers Federation is the guest of honor in this year’s festival. All kinds of honey, especially Sidr, Samra, Saif and Talha are on display at the festival. Apart from this, modern tools of apiculture are also showcased.