Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Celebrates Eid Al-Adha with Cultural Performances, Festivities

DGDA announced the celebration of Eid Al-Adha with various artistic and cultural events. SPA
DGDA announced the celebration of Eid Al-Adha with various artistic and cultural events. SPA
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Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Celebrates Eid Al-Adha with Cultural Performances, Festivities

DGDA announced the celebration of Eid Al-Adha with various artistic and cultural events. SPA
DGDA announced the celebration of Eid Al-Adha with various artistic and cultural events. SPA

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has announced the celebration of Eid Al-Adha with various artistic and cultural events designed to entertain and delight residents and visitors.

The celebrations are taking place in iconic locations around Diriyah, including At-Turaif district and Bujairi Terrace.

The festivities commenced on the first day of Eid and will continue for four days, DGDA said in a statement. Engaging live performances, such as the traditional Al-Ardha and Al-Samari and interactive shows in At-Turaif, will ensure entertainment for all who attend and invite everyone to participate in the celebration.

Highlights of the celebration will include Arabian horse shows, Henna, and candy distribution via roaming classic cars, all of which will add to the celebratory spirit, it said.

According to the statement, DGDA will distribute 25,000 cash gifts (Eidiya) and 10,000 Eid chocolate gifts to families and visitors.

DGDA will host events in three parks, each featuring ten pavilions that showcase Diriyah's cultural legacy.

Bujairi Terrace will be a focal point of the celebrations, hosting a variety of cultural events, live musical performances, and art installations. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage in the traditional art of drawing on pottery cups adorned with Najdi inscriptions, and the immersive 'Diriyah Calligrapher' experience will offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Diriyah.

Diriyah's celebrations, during Eid and other significant occasions, have consistently drawn thousands of visitors from within the Kingdom and beyond. "These programs, rooted in Diriyah's rich culture and heritage, offer unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression on all who attend," the statement said.



Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
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Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP

A Vincent van Gogh painting displaying the artist's shift from dark realism to vibrant impressionism sold for US$32.2 million at a Hong Kong auction on Thursday, falling short of expectations that it would fetch a record-breaking price.
"Les canots amarres" -- or "the moored boats" -- was the centerpiece of an inaugural evening sale held to celebrate the opening of auction house Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters.
According to Christie's, it was expected to fetch HK$230-380 million (US$30-50 million) on the auction floor, AFP reported.
If bidding had reached the higher end of the estimated value, it could have surpassed Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Warrior" -- which went for HK$323.6 million in 2021 -- as the most expensive Western painting sold in Asia.

But the hammer of auctioneer Adrien Meyer fell Thursday at HK$250 million.
Cristian Albu, deputy chairman and head of 20th/21st century art at Christie's Asia Pacific, said the price was the "record of a Van Gogh in Asia.”
The auction house was "cautious" with its lineup on Thursday in hopes of boosting market confidence, added Ada Tsui, head of evening sale and specialist for 20th/21st century art.
Owned by the Italian royal family of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the Van Gogh painting is "the most important painting by the artist ever to be offered in Asia,” Christie's said in its introduction.
"'Les canots amarres' marks a vital stepping stone in his career," it said.
The painting is one of about 40 works Van Gogh developed around the scenic French town of Asnieres, a boating hub on the outskirts of Paris, during the summer of 1887.