Hodeida - Saba:
Al-Nakheelah Stadium in Al-Durayhimi District, Al-Hodeida province, hosted a vibrant popular carnival festival on Thursday in celebration of the date harvest season (Al-Manasif) for the year 1447 AH.
The event witnessed massive public interaction, reflecting the deep connection between the people of Tihama and their longstanding agricultural heritage.
Organized by the local authority of Al-Durayhimi and the General Mobilization Division, in cooperation with the Farmers' Associations of Al-Durayhimi and Tihama Coast, the festival aimed to highlight agricultural heritage, celebrate the date harvest season, and encourage farmers to enhance production and market their dates, thereby strengthening the role of palm trees in the local economy.
The festival featured horse and camel races, folkloric dance performances, camel jumping, traditional poetry recitations, and marketing pavilions showcasing various types of locally renowned Tihama dates. The event blended heritage and identity in a festive atmosphere.
During the festival, Al-Hodeida Governor Abdullah Atifi emphasized the importance of agricultural festivals in raising community awareness about farming’s role in achieving food security and self-sufficiency. He noted that Tihama represents Yemen’s food basket and a source of diverse agricultural wealth.
Atifi highlighted that Al-Hodeida, under the support and guidance of the Revolution Leader, Sayyid Abdulmalik Badruddin Al-Houthi, is advancing the national vision for the agricultural sector by supporting productive activities, expanding farmlands, and motivating farmers.
He stated that holding such events in Al-Durayhimi—a stronghold of resilience against aggression and blockade—demonstrates the people’s ability to turn hardship into achievements and transform land into a weapon against economic targeting.
"Al-Nakheelah is not just a house for palm trees but a symbol of resilience, production, and pride," Atifi affirmed. "Tihama continues to prove its ability to take initiative and thrive despite all challenges."
He added that such festivals restore the balance between citizens and their land, providing farmers with opportunities to market their products and promote the value of Tihama’s crops locally and internationally.
Atifi reiterated the local authority’s commitment to supporting such events across the governorate, given their role in strengthening national and economic belonging, linking citizens to their livelihoods, and promoting agricultural products.
He praised the festival’s organization and the symbolic messages conveyed through its cultural and artistic segments, which reflected the depth of Tihama’s folk heritage and its ancient history of palm cultivation.
Meanwhile, the Governorate’s Deputy for Services Affairs, Mohammed Halisi, noted that palm trees and their fruits have been historically tied to the people of Tihama, serving as a cornerstone of their daily lives and retaining a central place in their agricultural culture.
He pointed out that date festivals are held annually in Al-Nakheelah, Al-Suwaiq, and Al-Jah, attracting large commercial and public participation from various governorates—a testament to agriculture’s role as an economic driver for local communities.
Halisi affirmed that Al-Hodeida is among Yemen’s top producers of high-quality dates, opening promising opportunities for export and an agricultural-based economic revival.
Speeches by local officials and agricultural specialists underscored the festival’s importance in reviving the status of palm trees, encouraging new varieties, and improving date care, storage, and marketing methods.
They noted coordinated efforts between local authorities and agricultural associations to develop a comprehensive plan for advancing the palm sector and transforming Al-Manasif into an annual platform for knowledge exchange and public awareness about this strategic crop.
The festival’s accompanying traditional market saw significant visitor turnout, showcasing diverse Tihama date varieties. Artistic and poetic segments celebrated the harvest season and the deep-rooted connection to palm trees, painting a national scene filled with joy, pride, and resilience.
The artistic performances and heritage displays were a major attraction, embodying the symbolic significance of palm trees in the hearts of Tihama’s people and reinforcing agriculture as a lasting source of dignity, pride, and steadfastness in this productive and resilient governorate.
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