Tourism & Hospitality | Monday 29 June, 2015 2:05 am |

Balad, the downtown area of Jeddah, is one of favorite places for many people to go during Ramadan for its festive mood.
During Ramadan, most cities in the Kingdom have festive moods, and Jeddah is no exception. Glittering lights put up for the holy month enhance the beauty of the area. 

It is exceptionally crowded at night when people come to shop, enjoy traditional and cultural stalls and exhibitions at “Ramadana Kida” (Our Ramadan Was Like This). People gather around food stalls to enjoy delicacies such as baleela (chickpeas) and kibda (fried liver).
According to the tourist information center, “Ramadana Kida” had more than 150,000 visitors since its opening and will continue until the fourth day of Eid Al-Fitr.

The festival executive committee reported that the various events are appropriate for the numerous segments of society — one platform of entertainment for all.
The area is a living cocktail of cultures and traditions. As a site steeped in rich heritage, it not only offers history but also personifies the harmonic and cosmopolitan culture of Jeddah.
The festival includes commercial, social, cultural, religious, sporting, environmental and heritage activities of Hijazi with the aim of promoting the Kingdom as a house of culture, literature, and Arabian and Islamic history, while preserving its heritage and cultural treasures. 
With the extension of the area of the festival by 1,000 meters, visitors get a glimpse of Ramadan of the old days.
The event comprises several cultural and entertainment programs based on Hejazi heritage. A souk was created to reflect the traditional market, where vendors were seen selling handmade wares and Saudi coffee.

Old buildings, monuments, museums and mosques attract visitors due to their ancient charm. The four famous districts here include Mazloom, Yemen, Bahar and Sham. Famous mosques in the area are the Othman bin Affan Mosque, the Basha Mosque, the Akash Mosque and the Hanafi Mosque.
A visitor to the festival, Mohammed Aziz from Riyadh, said the festival reminds him of old times. “It’s an excellent idea to introduce new generations to their past and traditions. I always enjoy the distinctive Ramadan atmosphere here in Balad and it’s a must visit for me and my family,” he said.
Maryam Jonathon, another visitor, said it presents a lot of history of Jeddah, and "you can buy anything from modern to traditional things."
She said her family enjoys visiting downtown Jeddah to soak in its history, as well as buy specific things that are not available in other areas.