Jordan Daily - Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, deputising for King Abdullah II, on Wednesday opened the 40th Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts with a ceremony at the ancient Roman city of Jerash, launching one of the kingdom's largest annual cultural events.
Hassan lit the festival torch at the North Theatre, officially opening this year's edition under the theme "A Legacy Extends... Generations Meet."
Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Festival’s Higher Committee Mustafa Rawashdeh said the festival had become a leading cultural platform in Jordan and the wider Arab region, promoting artistic exchange and intercultural dialogue over four decades.
He said the festival, held under royal patronage, reflected Jordan's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage while embracing contemporary artistic expression. He described Jerash as a historic crossroads of trade and culture that continues to provide a venue for artistic and intellectual exchange.
Rawashdeh said the festival's continuity over 40 years demonstrated Jordan's stability and resilience despite regional challenges, adding that organisers were using modern technology to engage younger audiences and promote the kingdom's cultural heritage.
Mohammad Bani Yasin, chairman of the Greater Jerash Municipal Committee, said the festival remained an important showcase of Jordanian cultural identity and highlighted the role of culture in fostering dialogue and public awareness.
The opening ceremony featured a production marking the festival's 40th anniversary, tracing the evolution of Jordanian music from traditional folklore to contemporary genres through live performances, orchestral music, a choir, visual projections and modern lighting.
Jordanian performers Omar Al Abdallat, Hussein Salman, Aziz Maraka, Nedaa Shrara and Issam Najjar took part in the show, which concluded with the annual lighting of the festival torch.
The festival's public programme begins on Thursday and runs through Aug. 2.
