Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques tonight attended an evening of ardha, the traditional sword dance of Saudi Arabia. The performance was staged by the National Guard as part of the 21st annual National Festival for Heritage and Culture at Jenadriyah.

The King participated in the dance before attending a dinner held in his honor by the Higher Committee in charge of organizing the festival.

The ardha has its roots in the Najd region of Saudi Arabia. It is an ancient tradition that combines singers, dancers and a poet or narrator. Men carrying swords stand shoulder to shoulder and, from their midst, a poet begins to sing verses or a short melodic line while drummers beat out the rhythm.

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