UAE | Heritage and Culture
Liwa Date Festival gets under way
The Fourth Liwa Festival kicked off in Mazirah in the Western Region on Thursday to the rhythms of Ayala (traditional dance).
- By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
- Published: 23:05 July 19, 2008
- The popular date festival in Liwa is being held until August 2.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Abu Dhabi: The Fourth Liwa Festival kicked off in Mazirah in the Western Region on Thursday to the rhythms of Ayala (traditional dance).
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Buti Al Hamed, the Ruler's representative in the Western Region, opened the main exhibition for date production and traditional handicraft products.
He considered the festival this year a reflection of people's concern to keep their heritage and culture alive.
A large number of farmers from the Western Region and Al Ain registered for the Mazayin Al Ratb Festival, the main competition in the festival.
Daily auction
Winners in each category will be chosen by a committee of specialist judges who will measure the dates' form and size and whether they are free from defects.
Starting yesterday a daily auction of dates will be organised along with other activities such as a traditional handcrafts competition, poetry evenings, group weddings, popular games, lectures on palm trees and agriculture, religious lectures, competitions and special sessions to educate children on how to care for palm trees.
The festival will continue until August 2.
Share this article
More from UAE Heritage & Culture
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Thieves caught with Dh6 million in gold bars
- ADWEA tenders for new power, desalination plants
- Mohammad approves federal demographic body
- Criminal wanted in 360 cases arrested in Dubai
- UAE visitor admits to possessing fake notes
- Men get bail in Dubai due to lack of translator
- Security trial in UAE adjourned until December
- Colombia seeks stronger ties with UAE
- Conference on combatting crime through sports begins
- Passer-by foils Dh2.5m robbery bid in Dubai
- Brothers deny vandalising plaintiff's car
- Extended break for Eid and National Day
- Free SMS offer for paid parking in Dubai
- UAE official urges corporate support for diabetes control initiatives
- Duo develop low energy desalting process
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
