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.



US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
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US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP

The United States has returned to Iran more than 1,000 clay tablets dating from the Achaemenid-era, official media said, reporting the sixth such handover of its kind.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Thursday evening that the tablets, 1,100 in all, were returned with President Masoud Pezeshkian who had attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Found at the ruins of Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire which ruled from the 6th to 4th centuries BC in southern Iran, the repatriated tablets reflect how the ancient society was organised and its economy managed.

According to AFP, the tablets constitute records of "the rituals and the way of life of our ancestors", said Ali Darabi, vice-minister of cultural heritage, cited by IRNA.

The tablets were returned to Iran by the University of Chicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa, formerly known as the Oriental Institute.

A large portion of the tablets were returned in three batches between 1948 and 2004 before the rest were blocked by legal action until 2018.

More than 3,500 tablets were repatriated in September, 2023.

"The American side undertook to return the rest," Darabi said, cited by Iran's ISNA news agency.