Douz desert magic: more than 100,000 visitors expected for the festival

Douz desert magic: more than 100,000 visitors expected for the festival

TUNISIAONLINENEWS- More than 100,000 visitors, including many from the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria as well as from the Gulf States, are expected to attend one the region’s most celebrated Saharan Festival, in Southern Tunisia.
From December 27 to 30, 2009 Douz is hosting the 42 nd edition of its traditional Saharan festival.
Known as the “Gateway to the desert”, this small desert town will live its moment of glory, as it celebrates local horsing and hunting customs  in a colourful display of  scenic re-enactments of the town’s rich folklore.

Located on the Great Oriental Erg, Douz is still best visited during the yearly festival which usually takes place during the month of December.
The Douz festival which has done a lot to promote the town’s desert culture and traditions, has also contributed to keeping alive the town’s rich traditions and mores.
Camel and greyhound races, folk dancing, and hunting competitions, are some of the ingredients for that desert magic which each year continues to operate, attracting an increasing flow of visitors who flock to the city, without forgetting to visit its amazing surrounding areas, like Onk El Djemel, near Tataouine, immortalized by George Lucas as planet Taouine in “Star Wars” and in the “Phantom Menace”.
Each year , the festival hosts an international conference organized by the by the Ben Ali Chair for the dialogue of religions and civilizations.
This year’s event   which was opened on Sunday by the Minister of Culture and Heritage Preservation, Mr Abderraouf El Basti, will be held under the theme: “The Tent and the Palm Tree” and will explore Douz’s rich historical dimension, including its former role as a trading caravan base.
A handicraft fair, and poetry recital, are also part of the festival’s  program.
More than 100 exhibitors from all over the region, will display their works and a painting exhibit will also be held on the theme “The Sahara, source of inspiration and creation”.
However, the festival highlights are undoubtedly the dazzling hunting scenes where greyhounds (sloughis), are called in to hunt down desert hares, as well as the amazing fantasia scenes during which horsemen in white turbans imitate fighting scenes of yore amidst a swirl of traditional Bedouin music.
A truly estranging experience, even for the most ‘blasé’ of visitors who will find something to remember and to take back home for the coming new year.

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