“I am crazy about Muharraq and I am wandering in the alley, no one knew me about you, Muharraq, what did they do?”
These are the lyrics of an old song by poet Shaikh Isa bin Rashid Al Khalifa. It was composed and sung by the famous singer Ibrahim Habib in the early 70s of the last century.
I remembered this song as I was roaming the streets of the valiant city to attend the Muharraq Nights Festival.
The cultural and artistic event is one of the most prominent events that celebrate Bahrain’s rich cultural heritage. It is usually organised in the heritage and historical areas of Muharraq, such as Al Qasariya Suq and the vicinity of Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House, to combine the fragrance of the past and the present in a distinctive festive atmosphere.
The festival focuses on highlighting folk arts, handicrafts and traditional crafts that reflect Bahrain’s cultural identity. It is also an opportunity to attract visitors and tourists from all over the world to learn about Bahraini heritage and enjoy the unique atmosphere of Muharraq. Besides, it provides a platform for local artists to showcase their work through musical performances, plays and art exhibitions.
The festival is full of a variety of activities that suit all family members. There are creative workshops on drawing, colouring and hand-printing for children, and for adults we have art exhibitions and design shows that highlight heritage and contemporary art, markets offering a variety of products, in addition to cultural seminars, Bahraini and international musical evenings and museums of pearls and antiques. There are also multiple stations focusing on authentic Bahraini and international cuisine.
Muharraq Nights Festival is a cultural celebration that combines authenticity and modernity and is a unique opportunity for a rich experience that highlights the beauty and heritage of Bahrain.
I hope that this beautiful, distinctive and upscale festival will continue for three months, given that it is one of the best and most successful festivals ever. This can be down to two factors. First, the festival is being held during the best days of our kingdom, coinciding with National Day celebrations. Second, the event is a tourist attraction for visitors to Bahrain, and a support for small and medium enterprises that participate in the festival.
I have previously mentioned that Bahrain needs to organise various cultural, entertainment and commercial events throughout the year to form an attractive and ideal tourist destination for visitors from all over the world in general and from the Gulf countries in particular.
Finally, I can only raise my hat to all those involved for their tremendous efforts in organising this wonderful festival.
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