RIYADH: For the entire month of Ramadan, local shops are bringing heritage crafts to Al-Nada Garden and Al-Hezam Park in Riyadh for the Ramadan District event.
Vibrant decorations welcome visitors to Al-Nada Garden to live out a unique cultural experience and get a taste of authentic Saudi traditions.
Two shops specialize in weaving — a Sadu shop featuring colorful, hand-embroidered goods, and a wicker shop, offering a variety of accessories.
In 2020, wicker weaver Razan Jaber and Sadu weaver Aisha Fakhaihi took training courses with the Herfa Organization as part of an initiative aimed at preserving heritage crafts through workshops and events.
“I have been practicing Sadu for three years now, and I hope to create new things in the future. Herfa has helped me a lot with personal development and my hobby,” Fakhaihi said.
“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,” Jaber said.
Saudi psychologist Ahmed Al-Shehri was taking his daily stroll when the rosary shop caught his eye.
“I was taking my daily walk when I came across a rosary shop that grabbed my attention. It was great seeing a young Saudi man creating rosaries, which is not usually typical,” he said.
“I also noticed that there are other shops with traditional ways of handmaking crafts such as the Sadu and wicker weaving. Where I’m from, weaving is very well known, and seeing that the new generation and kids are getting to know what it is makes this a beautiful initiative,” Al-Shehri said.
Visitors are spoiled for choice with all the food and refreshment options from Saudi-owned home kitchen Tuwaiq Kitchen and the Black Stamp coffee shop, which offers a special hibiscus tea for Ramadan.
Operated by Saudi women, Tuwaiq Kitchen has an exclusive menu for the month of Ramadan filled with traditional dishes such as the Saudi national dish jareesh and basboosa for dessert.
Ramadan District is one of the events under Ramadan Season, a series of cultural experiences organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture across Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah.
The event will take place for 30 days during the holy month, from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. in Al-Nada Garden and Al-Hezam Park.
