Community festival draws the crowds.

Music and merriment echoed across Hidd on Friday as thousands of locals and expatriates flocked to Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park.

The Bahrain For All, All For Bahrain Festival allowed participants to organise a party to celebrate island life with all its colourful cultural magnificence.

More than 42 embassies, clubs and societies and 16 Ministry of Interior (MOI) directorates rallied together to put on a series of shows and activities. Around 250 market stalls were also stationed around the Hidd park highlighting an array of traditional dishes and attire.

The ministry senior officials and police band kicked off the sixth community event with a parade of trumpets, trombones and other musical instruments followed by traditionally-dressed MOI Protocol horsemen parading the red and white flag patriotically.

Children from various clubs, societies and countries, including youngsters with special needs, followed the band around the busy market area with crowds of people waving to them as they passed by.

The procession ended at the fountain area where the band took to their seats and played to the many visitors getting their faces painted and henna done.

The fountain area was dedicated to the Hidd Rehabilitation Centre, Think Pink, WWIC, Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled, Saudi Bahraini Institute of the Blind, Bahraini Association for Down Syndrome and others.

It was bursting with energy as families gathered to learn more about the societies as children posed with the military horses and colourful life-size cartoon characters such as Angry Birds, Smurfs, Hello Kitty and more.

Event organiser Nivedita Dhadphale said last year 50,000 visitors were recorded and she is confident that figure has been exceeded this year. "The event was a major hit with all members of the community in particular with the children who loved the activities we had in store for them," she said.

"The success of the event is thanks to the concerted effort made by each community and this year's participation of the Ministry of Interior directorates was an added bonus to raise awareness as well as support with crowd control. We are delighted with the excellent feedback from the embassies and clubs and very thankful for their continued support".

Numerous ambassadors and dignitaries attended the festival, including China's political counsellor Lin Zheming, Ethiopian honorary counsellor Esky Dubois, Thailand's ambassador Chayapan Bamrungphon and Hathaichanok Riddhagni Frumau, Jordan's ambassador Sami Ghoosheh and Philippines ambassador Alfonso A Ver and others.

The stands in the marketplace were magnificent with the flags of participating countries plastered over the stalls and its vendors either selling handmade goods, photographs, jewellery and other products or promoting their countries heritage through clothing, food or booklets.

Different music and miniature performances were staged around each stall exhibiting the diversity this little island holds.

Members of the Bahrain Mobility International Centre were delighted to participate in the festival and sell their paintings, pottery and other handicrafts. "This centre helps develop the talent of the disabled and integrate them within the society," a spokesman said. "They paint, they stitch and do other things and it was our first time participating in this event.

"We loved it and had a lot of fun interacting with visitors. We sold a lot of items as well such as paintings and handicrafts. This event was great to raise awareness about our cause."

Think Pink founder and chairman Jules Sprakel and a group of volunteers were also exhibiting their rosy-hued merchandise for the first time. Parents and children picked up booklets and ribbons in support while asking about the cause.

Jules said: "The festival was fantastic. It's just incredible to witness the different array of people and cultures all in one place - all living together in Bahrain harmoniously. I must say fair play to the organisers for putting on such a great event."

Children shrieked in delight when Kid's Zone's host Mai Al-Khatib-Camille presented Bahrain's beloved TV presenter Baba Yaseen who regaled them with stories.

Beats of Bahrain drummers pounded their way into the hearts of visitors with a sensational show that started a dance-off within the crowd surrounding the stage.

All eyes were soon focused on the larger stage located at the end of the park which featured the beautiful Bahrain skyline as a backdrop. Hundreds of seats were lined up a few metres from the stage for people to enjoy performances, although most were up on their feet dancing to the different beats as soon as the shows began.

The Philippines community put on a stunning series of traditional dances that kept the crowd mesmerised while members of the Indonesian embassy and society captivated them with the sounds of their folkloric musical bamboo tubed instrument called the angklung.

Nur Fitria, the third secretary from the Indonesian Embassy, said: "It is my pleasure and our honour to perform at the festival. We have been participating since the event was launched. Bahrain is such a friendly place to live and this festival shows us that Indonesia is a part of Bahrain and Bahrain is part of our family."

Masterful MC and comedian Ali 'Fingerz' Al Esbai kept the party flowing with his quick wit in between sets as DJ Westlife provided upbeat and energetic vibes throughout before rapper Hamad 'Mystro' Al Fardan took to the stage to deliver an explosive set of tunes and rhymes.

The event was so successful that the organisers are already planning for next year's activities scheduled for April 2018.

It promises to be another showcase of unity and diversity in beautiful Bahrain.

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Publication:	Gulf Weekly
Geographic Code:	7BAHR
Date:	Apr 12, 2017
Words:	935
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Topics:	Festivals