A THREE-DAY festival showcasing Bahrain’s palm trees and date harvest opened at the Farmer’s Market in Hoorat A’ali yesterday.
The third edition of the cultural heritage festival, ‘Khairat Al Nakhla’, which is organised by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) in co-operation with the Farmers Market Department of the Bahrain Development Bank and the Municipal Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, was inaugurated by NIAD’s secretary general Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa.
Shaikha Maram stressed the great importance of the Palm Tree Festival, which is in its third season, as it represents a significant aspect of Bahraini heritage, and the keenness to organise this festival on an on-going basis.
“I love this festival because it’s such a happy occasion that brings everyone together after so long,” said Shaikha Maram.
“I see the joy in people’s eyes whether it is the stall owners themselves or the visitors that are coming to the festival.
“It’s a beautiful and happy occasion to celebrate our harvest of dates because this is the time of year for it and it’s everywhere you look.”
The festival aims to encourage and support the local production of all palm products to preserve the agricultural identity and was attended by a large number of Bahraini farmers, agricultural companies, artisans and productive families.
BDB chief executive Dalal Al Qais and assistant under-secretary for agricultural affairs at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Dr Abdulaziz Mohammed Abdulkarim, were also present at the opening ceremony.
Visitors browsed through a variety of stalls boasting various types of dates and plenty of products made using parts of the popular tree, alongside food stalls.
Children were entertained by a date fruit mascot named Khlasi while Bahrain’s Police Band played on.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry showcased the different types of insects that are harming palm trees and the different methods that are being used to help preserve the trees and help them flourish too.
The festival features a number of entertainment and cultural activities with the participation of a group of Bahraini farmers, firms, productive families and craftsmen.
A selection of food items made from dates such as sweets, ice cream and date pickles are also being showcased, along with various types of dates.
Exhibitors are also showcasing products extracted from palm trees such as ropes, baskets, cages and furniture along with tools used in maintaining the trees.
The festival also aims to provide an opportunity for the community to support and encourage the sustainability and growth of the local agriculture sector.
Palm trees are native to the kingdom which is why Bahrain is known as the land of a million palm trees.
The beauty of the tree is that, aside from the dates, every part of it can be turned into something useful. For example, cut fronds are used for fishing nets, the leaves are used to weave baskets and pollen is scraped from the leaves to produce pollen water for medicinal purposes. Dates are also considered a holy fruit in the Middle East, which is why the date palm is regarded as the ‘Tree of Life’.
Historians believe that dates are ancient fruits that were cultivated around 8,000 years ago and that there are more than 200 varieties of dates with different shapes and flavours. However, all of them are the same in nutrition.
The festival, which ends tomorrow, is open free of charge on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm.
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