Khareef Festival begins today
Sayyid Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saif Al Busaidi, chairman of State Audit Institution, will inaugurate the Khareef Salalah Festival 2007 at Lake Amphitheatre of Municipal Recreation Centre here tonight.
The opening ceremony will include 11 tableaux performances that will embody the Sultanate’s rich heritage and legacy with participation of 900 artistes from various folklore teams, schools and Omani Women Association branches in the Dhofar region along with Scouts units.
The inaugural function will be marked by the performances of four famous Omani singers who will sing some poems written by renowned Omani poets and set to tune by Dr Abdullah Al Rumaithan, prominent Kuwaiti musician.
The arts programme will be held under the direction of the Egyptian artiste Dr Adil Abdu.
This year’s festival includes a number of cultural and arts activities which will be held in various venues.
Seminars, lectures, awareness campaigns, sports activities, traditional games, shows, poetry nights, contests for children and entertainments will enliven the festival, which will last until August 31.
There is a remarkable increase in the number of visitors from the Sultanate and the neighbouring countries to the region and the festival is becoming more and more successful every year, according to Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Qatabi, minister of state and governor of Dhofar.
Sheikh Salim bin Aufait Al Shanfari, chairman of Dhofar Municipality and head of the Khareef Festival, said all preparations at the main venue at the Municipality Recreation Centre at Attain Valley and other places were complete.
It is noted that 17,486 persons visited the Dhofar region from June 21 to July 6.
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