Al Ain Cultural Programme begins in UAE

As part of the annual Al Ain Cultural Programme, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has hosted three events exploring Emirati culture and heritage.

Events at Qasr Al Muwaiji (قصر المويجعي Al Muwaiji Palace) on 19 October included the Bisht Workshop, which explored the history of the traditional garment worn by UAE rulers, and the different kinds of bisht (البشت) patterns associated with each ruler. Visitors also took part in a practical sewing workshop where they created their own bisht.

The monthly Poetry Evenings season also kicked off at Qasr Al Muwaiji on 19 October where visitors could take part in educational workshops, celebrating the nation’s poets and writers.

Source: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Poetry evening at the Qasr Al Muwaiji.

The historic Al Jahili Fort (قلعة الجاهلي) held the season’s first session of Memory of the Emirati Song with a diverse selection of performances, discussions and exhibitions exploring traditional songs from the 50s through to the 70s and original Emirati poetry that are deeply connected to the history and heritage of the UAE.

The 2017/18 programme at Al Jahili Fort will include Abu Dhabi Classics and The Trucial Scouts: Life and Times, an exhibition in collaboration with the UAE GHQ Armed Forces Administration and the Manpower Staff Museum & Military History Centre.

Visitors to Al Jahili Fort will also have the chance to participate in traditional handicrafts workshops every Tuesday, as well as police dog shows at the fort’s courtyard every Wednesday. Military band performances will take place every Thursday.

Details:

Check for upcoming events in the Al Ain Cultural Programme

Dr Martha Tilaar sets up association to preserve traditional herbal folklore, grow local herbal businesses

Dr Martha Tilaar, founder of one of largest cosmetics companies in Indonesia, has helped to establish an association for herb sellers in Indonesia, Laskar Jamu Gendong Indonesia. 

The assembly establishment certificate for Laskar Jamu Gendong Indonesia was signed by Dr Tilaar, Nuning S Barwa and Heru D Wardhana as representatives of the CSR team of the Martha Tilaar Group, a representative of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah as well as herbal sellers Kasijem Sudarsih, Laksmi and Desy Widayanti. 

A signing ceremony involving some of the herb sellers, government representatives, notaries and representatives  from Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a recreational area in Jakarta, took place on April 6. 

Laskar Jamu Gendong Indonesia aims to provide all members with training and guidance to increase their skills and grow their herbal businesses. It will also act as an information and knowledge exchange about herbal matters.

Dr Tilaar stressed that traditional herbal knowledge needs to be preserved as it is Indonesia's cultural heritage and contributes to Indonesia's identity. “I want to collaborate with all parties, from herbal sellers and Taman Mini Indonesia who always gives support to herbal activity in Indonesia, to together advance the herbal sector in Indonesia,” said Dr Tilaar. 

Islamic wellness traditions to catch on globally in 2015 and beyond

Spafinder Wellness 365 has released its 12th report* on the top 10 spa and wellness trends set to unfold in 2015.

“In our 12 years of trend-tracking, we have never seen spa/wellness concepts go so deep and global, be so meaningful and move in so many surprising, provocative directions,” said Spafinder Wellness Chief Brand Officer Mia Kyricos. “Our goal is to provide an in-depth resource and help the industry make informed decisions by analysing the social, cultural and economic shifts that fuel each trend.”

The top global spa and wellness trends for 2015 include wellness traditions from the Islamic world.

According to Spafinder, the world has as yet been not noticed what the wellness traditions of the Islamic world can offer with its "advanced food-as-medicine, and nature-based beauty and healing practices, refined for 1,000 years". The company predicts that more people will seek nutritional, beauty and “spa” traditions central to Islamic cultures in years ahead. 

Middle Eastern and African spices, grains and fruits will be the buzzed-about superfoods, ingredients used for both food and beauty (from camel’s milk to baobab fruit) will trend, and spas will offer more experiences like rasul**/mud treatments and sand bathing.

Spafinder suggests checking out the blackseed-infused, Senegalese skincare line, Tiossan, and the planned Zulal Destination Spa (Doha, Qatar, 2017), which is to be the first retreat to immerse guests in the well-being traditions from across the Islamic world. 

Read the report here. 

*The report is based on surveys with the company’s network of consumers, travel agents and spa/wellness businesses conducted over the last year. 

**A rasul is a room in the Arab tradition where steam and mud are applied to bodies.