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Traditional foods, mock-weddings and cultural artefacts will form part of Min Bladi Al Emarat starting this weekend.
Min Bladi Al Emarat, a Dubai Summer Surprises 2008 event showcasing the tradition and culture of the UAE, begins on this Thursday at the China Court in Ibn Battuta Mall.
Running till July 31, Min Bladi will include traditional foods, interactive demonstrations, mock traditional weddings and a range of cultural artefacts.
Daily contests are tailored to further public awareness of the UAE's rich heritage will be held, say organisers.
There will be three winners for each contest with the winner taking home Dh3,000, the runner up Dh2,000 and second runner up Dh1,000. The prizes are sponsored by the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) Office.
DSF chief executive Laila Suhail says, “Min Bladi aims at raising awareness amongst visitors, residents, and UAE nationals about the heritage, customs, and traditions of the UAE."
“Our goal through this event is to revive the UAE heritage, and in the process also create a platform for the exchange of cultures and instil a sense of identity among the young generations. We want to convey to them a clear-cut, all-embracing image of the deeply-rooted traditions of our forefathers."
Contests
Best Perfume and Eyeliner
When: July 24
All competing products must be home-made.
Popular Cuisine
When: July 25
The competing dishes must be home-made and prepared by the competitor herself. Each dish should not exceed more than 3 kg in weight. Open to women only.
Best Poem
When: July 26
This contest is open only for males aged between 10 and 16 years old. All entries must be the creation of the participants or one of their family members. The participants shall be judged according to several criteria, including quality, poem recitation, self presentation before the jury panel and voice modulation.
Emirati Coffee
When: July 28
The contest is open to both men and women. The coffee must be home- made and contestants must bring with them the original powder used in preparing the product.
Best Hand-Made Product
When: July 29
This women-only contest stipulates that all products must be prepared before the jury.
Best Popular Dress
When: July 31
A contest on the best Emirati female costume, where competitors will vie to introduce the best possible designs and materials used to fashion the dress.
Best Esama and Youla contest
Each child must wear the white ghutra and wrap it around his head before the jury panel. Participants will be judged on how fast each participant wraps the ghutra and if it suits the head. And in the case of the youla, participant will be judged on how the rifle is used. The contest will be held on July 27 for children aged between 10 and 12 years.
Flower shower
Shoppers at the Bin Sougat Centre were thrilled with a Flower Rain event recently as part of its DSS celebrations. The colourful flower petals were specially flown in from The Netherlands and showered over shoppers. The next Flower Rain will take place at Times Square Centre on July 31.
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