Bahrain will hold the annual Heritage Festival, in its 29th edition, from April 5 to 8 at the Souq Al Baraha in Diyar Al-Muharraq under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), and supported by Souq Al Baraha, the festival will be open every night, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

This year’s edition of the festival celebrates the Bahraini Ramadan customs, which will pave the way for visitors to learn about the authentic traditions formed by the local community and related to the holy month, through a varied line-up of entertainment activities.

The 29th Heritage Festival will be open to the public from 9pm to mid-night, and will feature a varied programme, including musical performances by folklore bands, face painting, traditional games, Hazawi (folk tales) and tasting experiences of many Ramadan foods, among others and many others.

Through this programme, BACA seeks to shed light on Ramadan customs, such as Gurgaon, family gatherings, El Misaharaty (Ramadan drummer), folk games, Iftar cannon, Ramadan Sufra (table or cloth for serving food) and popular food.

The festival aims to emphasise the authenticity of these Ramadan customs and their connection with the identity, culture and heritage of the Kingdom. Bahrainis are keen to adhere to these traditions and pass them from one generation to another, despite the changes that occurred in the contemporary lifestyle.

Since its launch in 1992, under the patronage of HM the King, the Heritage Festival has provided an opportunity to shed light on the elements of tangible and intangible Bahraini heritage. It is a national platform in which Bahraini traditions are showcased to highlight the value of the national heritage and raise awareness of its importance and the need to preserve and preserve it for future generations.