Sharjah Heritage Festival showcases glimpses from the UAE's past

The social development program aiming to uphold the UAE national identity is taking part in the 6th Sharjah Heritage Days Festival held under the patronage of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah on April 9-26 and entitled 'Our Heritage is the Symbol of Our Identity.'

As the world comes together to celebrate the rich cultures hosted by the Emirates, visitors of the Sharjah Heritage Festival are invited to experience and capture on camera or mobile the authentic depictions of the UAE's heritage then upload their video and audio footages on the first of its kind, user-driven portal www.watani.tv. In addition to actively contributing to the creation of the first online heritage reservoir for the UAE, the participants will have the chance to win amazing prizes for the duration of the festival as part of the 'National Treasures' Best Video competition.

The campaign which was launched on the 36th UAE National Day, offers everyone living in the UAE and around the world the opportunity to upload and share audio and video files or images that capture the country's past and present. The uploaded materials represent social and cultural customs, arts, traditional recipes, herbal remedies, tales and family stories and crafts for the generations to come. It could also reflect the users' views and lifestyle experiences in today's UAE. 'National Treasures' campaign aims to create an online heritage reservoir and a colorful source of information about the country.

His Excellency Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, Coordinator-General, Watani, says: 'it's great that the old tales and stories about our ancestors' lives and adventures have been passed on to us through the stories of our beloved elderly. However in today's technology-based world, we all rely heavily on new communications tools especially the internet to search for and learn about everything. And we risk loosing those fantastic tales and old family stories. Therefore we invite everyone to take part in this drive to save the true essence of our social and cultural heritage by documenting the precious moments and preserving them as credible references for our future generations.'

The 6th Sharjah Heritage Days Festival is one of the most important events that delineate the history, cultural achievements and traditions of the UAE. Some of the significant traditions are the wedding ceremonies and the folkloric dances performed by groups that belong to the Department of Culture and Information. This year the festival hosts more than 60 participants from 16 countries that showcase their cultural talents and crafts.