Media Center

Under the Patronage of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa may God protect him, the 25th Annual Heritage Festival Kicks Off with “ Natural Springs” Theme on 5 April 2017, at 7 pm near Bahrain Fort.

The Festival takes its inspiration from those natural water springs and their part in our history all over our beautiful Kingdom and the tales those springs would have told had they been able to speak. The event, which is organised by Bahrain Authority for Culture &Antiquities (BACA) till April 15, will explore Bahrain's folkloric heritage that is related to natural springs. The popular heritage and natural water springs have much in common, especially in relation to ‘ Al-Manjoor”, an ancient irrigation system tool and its relation to folk songs and mawwals. The festival will also feature an art exhibition showcasing a collection of Bahrain National Museum artefacts. Sixteen Bahraini artists will also display their works related to natural springs and agricultural villages, such as Ain Bu Zidan, and Barbar Sacred Well and Ain Um Alsujoor. The festival will shed light on Bahrain's famous springs and related handicrafts, such as “ Al Naqda” female art weaving and knitting, basket-making, boat-making, calligraphy, Kurar, plam-tree grooves, al Mabyeta boxes, traditional music instruments and agriculture. A folkloric suq will also be held on the side-lines of the event with the participation of many Bahraini outlets, such as popular local crafts such as such as traditional fish traps (Hadra), palm leaves houses (Barastaj), basket weaving, herbal and traditional medicine, production of dibs, etc. For instance, there are several distribution centers around the site of Qala’at al Bahrain that work to promote these herbal and traditional medicines or medicinal waters (Al Jisr Factory near the site). Lugah al Ma'aa is exerted from the pulp of the Palm trees when they are not fully ripe yet. Other Bahraini outlets participating in this annual event will also include Al-Heef for Arabic Coffee, Al-Noor Dates, in addition to incenses and tissues. “ Haraka” shops products inspired by Bahrain traditional heritage will also be present, together with “ Mashmoom” outlets for cosmetics, Hair Art Gallery home-made products, Achar & spices, Karakeesh rosary beads, Al-Dana cold stores, Kashkool art boutique and Mirari. Ice Cream Al-Taybeen, Um Ibrahim Tea with Milk, Um Jomaa recipes, Luly cake and Canafe, al Halawaji sweets, Fandees, Gastro, Yadida, Namlet, Popular Corner, Zaafran, Bu Khalaf , Naseef and Darseen cafés.

Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities is keen to support and promote traditional music groups, preserving the ancient music heritage of “ Al Sawt Art”, which it constitutes a cornerstone in the Bahraini cultural identity. Al-Achoori art, dagg al habb, Al Liyah, art, Alfejiri art and Jirba music art will also feature among the famous percussion arts that will be performed by Bahrain Folk Police Musical Band, Dar Bin Harban, Mohammad Bin Faris Music Band, Al-Riffa Youth House, Dar Qalali, Ismael Dawes Music Band, Al-Hidd Youth House, Al-Riffa Little House, Sami al Malood al Jassim Jamsheer music groups.

There will also be musical evenings and a kids corner for daily workshops from 4 pm to 9 pm. Daily marionettes shows will also be held to entertain visitors and a show on decorating cake and biscuits will be organised at the weekend. Children activities will include workshops, such as Spring Waters collage workshop, Natural Water Springs of Bahrain, Paint on Stones, Shape Metal Wire, Adhari Spring Water, The SAB Fish, Springs between my hands, Decorating Alheb, Color My Painting with Salt, Light of Spring waters, Moss Jar and others.

Children will have a daily rendez-vous with puppets shows that will embark them in a journey around Bahrain’s natural springs and irrigation canals performed by “Heritage Hazawi (tales)”. Weekends will be dedicated to biscuit and cake shows and decorations.

Bahrain Heritage Festival has gained worldwide reputation since its launch in 1992. Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, The King of The Kingdom of Bahrain, Bahraini traditions are presented annually within the festival, which reflects the keenness of His Majesty to patronize this event in order to preserve this rich heritage for the future generations.

The festival will run until on the 14th of April from 4-9 p.m. BACA ‘s 2017’s edition of heritage festival, in harmony with Bahrain Culture’s slogan “Our year of Heritage 2017”, will be unique and different in that it has selected a special theme phrase to lend a unique element; “Natural Water Springs’s Tales”