Tartous-Sana
The launch of the activities of the “Al-Khawabi Festival for Culture, Arts and Literature” in its fourth session witnessed a variety of activities, such as an exhibition of plastic arts, poetry evenings, traditional and folk concerts, and a book fair at the Muhammadiyah School in the village of Al-Khawabi in Tartous countryside.
The festival included the opening of an exhibition of plastic arts, with the participation of 13 artists from Tartous and a number of governorates, in addition to a music program, during which the Harmony Music Institute choir presented a bouquet of various songs led by Rawan Al-Jundi and a solo play on the Buzuq instrument by the artist Alain Murad.
The “Ashti” troupe for Kurdish arts presented dance paintings that embodied social situations, customs and traditions of a heritage nature. The director of the troupe, Idris Murad, stated in a statement to SANA that “Ashti” was founded in 2014 and includes about 25 artists and musicians.
The first day also included an exhibition of books from the publications of the Arab Writers Union that will last for 15 days, displaying about 1,000 titles of its publications to sell at 200 Syrian pounds per book, in addition to a number of writers and interested people donating some of their own books with the aim of encouraging reading and enlightening the new generation.
The festival director, retired Major General Ali Al-Jundi, said in a statement to SANA: “Al-Khawabi Festival represents a cultural situation as it is the basis for confronting all the different dangers that threaten any country,” adding that the festival was held in the Muhammadiyah School due to its ancient cultural and historical importance, as it was founded in 1929.
A number of the people of the region presented local food and handicraft products in the charitable market that takes place during the days of the festival, as these works represent an aspect of the rich heritage, especially with the increasing interest in it and its wide spread.
It is noteworthy that the festival, which was opened in the midst of a large official and popular presence, continues for three days, as it presents poetry evenings on the second and third day with the participation of a number of poets, in addition to a diverse heritage art concert by the artist Camille Hamid on its second day, and a concert by the “Dandana” band led by Sumer Muhammad on the day. The third and last to conclude the festival by distributing certificates of appreciation to the participants.
Fatima Hussain