Local businesses are bringing traditional crafts to Al-Nada Garden and Al-Hezam Park in Riyadh for the duration of Ramadan as part of the Ramadan District celebration.
Visitors are greeted by colorful decorations as they enter Al-Nada Garden to experience a singular cultural encounter and sample genuine Saudi customs.
Two shops specializing in weaving offer hand-embroidered goods and accessories. These include the Sadu shop, featuring colorful items, and a wicker shop. Weavers Aisha Fakhaihi and Razan Jaber took training courses in 2020 with the Herfa Organization to preserve heritage crafts. The initiative aims to promote workshops and events that can help preserve Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage. Fakhaihi, who has been practicing Sadu for three years, is grateful for the support she has received from the organization in terms of personal development and exploring her hobby.
Jaber also appreciates the opportunity to showcase her wicker weaving skills at the event, saying, "The event has been nice. Kids are getting exposure to new things, and they are curious about where these things come from. It has been beautiful."
Ahmed Al-Shehri, a Saudi psychologist, was out for his regular walk when he noticed the rosary store. He was impressed to see a young Saudi individual making rosaries, which is not a typical occupation. Al-Shehri also observed that there are other stores that use conventional handcrafting techniques like Sadu and rattan braiding. The fact that the younger generation and children are learning about weaving—which is very well known where he is from—makes this an awesome endeavor.
With so many choices for food and drinks, including those from the Saudi-owned home kitchen Tuwaiq Kitchen and the Black Stamp coffee store, which provides a special hibiscus tea for Ramadan, visitors have an abundance of options. Tuwaiq Kitchen, run by Saudi women, offers a special Ramadan menu packed with regional specialties like the national dish jareesh, and basboosa for desert.
Ramadan Season, a collection of cultural activities put on by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Makkah, includes Ramadan District as one of its events. During the holy month, the event will run for thirty nights from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. in Al-Nada Garden and Al-Hezam Park.
