“Jarash” Lights Its 40th Flame: “A Heritage That Endures... Generations Meet”
Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan, representing King Abdullah II, officially opened the 40th edition of the Jerash International Festival for Culture and Arts on Wednesday evening by lighting the festival torch, signaling the start of the new season under the theme “A Heritage That Endures... Generations Meet.”
The current edition features more than 220 cultural and artistic events, which began on Thursday, July 23, and will continue until August 2. The festival sees wide participation from artists, intellectuals, and artistic troupes from Jordan and several Arab and foreign countries.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Jordanian Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Festival’s Supreme Committee, Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh, emphasized that “the Jerash Festival has cemented its status as an Arab and global cultural platform that unites arts and cultures, contributing to enhancing dialogue and cultural exchange among peoples. It represents a space where diverse languages and arts converge on the historic grounds of Jerash.”
Al-Rawashdeh welcomed participants from sister and friendly nations, noting that “the hosting of this event by the ancient city reflects its historical role as a hub for civilizational communication among peoples, a role it continues to fulfill today by hosting cultural, artistic, and intellectual events.”
For his part, Mohammad Bani Yaseen, Chairman of the Greater Jerash Municipality Council, stated that the city is once again celebrating a festival that combines the antiquity of the site with artistic creativity. He explained that the 40th edition marks an important milestone in the festival’s journey in artistic, organizational, and administrative terms, reflecting the stature it has achieved, as well as its role in strengthening Jordan’s presence on the map of Arab and international cultural and artistic festivals.
The opening ceremony featured a special artistic performance prepared to commemorate the festival’s 40th anniversary, showcasing the evolution of Jordanian music through a journey spanning from folk and folklore heritage, through independent and alternative music, to contemporary experiments that have brought Jordanian songs to Arab and world stages.
The performance consisted of five chapters covering memory and roots, the development of Jordanian music, and its presence at regional and global levels, before concluding with a special song for the 40th anniversary, coinciding with the lighting of the festival torch, in an annual tradition that embodies the continuity of its cultural mission.
The performance featured a group of Jordanian music stars, including Omar Al-Abdallat, Hussein Al-Salman, Aziz Murqa, Nida Sharara, and Issam Al-Najjar. The ceremony also honored artist Samira Tawfiq and posthumously honored the late artist Abdo Musa, in recognition of their contributions to enriching the trajectory of Jordanian and Arab music.
