The kick-off of the tenth edition of the international equestrian festival of Mata was given this Saturday, October 1st, under the patronage of His Majesty the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, organized by the Alamia Laaroussia association for social and cultural activities.
This cultural event is organized in the provincial district of Moulay Abdessalam Ben Mchich, Commune of Arbae Ayacha, Madchar Zniyed, in partnership with the UNESCO International Festival of Cultural Diversity.
“This festival related to spirituality, is under the pole Moulay Abdessalam Ben Mchich, a Sufi saint (1163 – 1228 or 559-626 of the hegira), who represents the Sufi school, the most influential in the Muslim world”, explains Nabil Baraka, President of the Festival during a press conference. “This festival, this joy, is a space of cohabitation, cultural sharing and exchange”, underlines Mr Baraka.
This three-day event is organised under the theme: “Mata: An ancestral heritage and a lever for sustainable development”. It is marked by the launch of the equestrian competition between the participating riders and equestrian teams, bringing together thousands of visitors and guests, from Morocco and abroad, flocking to this forum to celebrate this popular legacy, “this festival is above all an ancestral heritage, which today is unique, found only in this region of Morocco, in this region of the Mediterranean,” Mr Baraka said.
“Exceptional riders, who go on stage, are endowed with a lot of professionalism and courage and the one who wins, will embody the honour of the village, the champion represents in all the tribes, the most respected person”, he said, making it known that during this edition and “that thanks to the lovers of culture and heritage, today the locomotive for rural and ecological tourism development will take on a new look, this region, this plain remains internationally known. It is also the promotion of local products and crafts” insists Nabil Baraka, President of the Festival.
According to the organisers, thousands of visitors and guests from inside and outside Morocco flock to this forum to celebrate this popular legacy, around which many historical stories are woven and told by women in their songs, with a reverberation of the riders on their horse race course.
“This national heritage spans several historical periods, from the spiritual to the popular heritage, preserved for many years by the head of the lamiyin descendants, the late Professor Abdelhadi BARAKA, whose objective was to preserve this national heritage for future generations,” said the organisers in a press release.
First published at www.etoiledeurope.com
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