Jerash, Aug. 2 (Petra) — The 40th Jerash Festival for Culture and
Arts concluded on Sunday evening with a torch-extinguishing and flag
handover ceremony at the Oval Plaza in the ancient city of Jerash,
bringing to a close an edition held under the theme “A Legacy That
Endures… Generations Meets.” The festival ended after days of
cultural, artistic and literary activities that drew strong public
participation and reinforced its status as one of the region’s
leading cultural events.

The closing ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture and Chairman
of the Festival’s Higher Committee Mustafa Rawashdeh, Minister of
Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, Jerash Governor Malek Khraisat,
Chairman of the Greater Jerash Municipality Committee Mohammad Bani
Yaseen, members of the festival’s Higher Committee, officials, local
community representatives and media personnel. The festival’s torch
was extinguished and its flag lowered and formally handed over,
marking the conclusion of the 40th edition.

This year’s festival featured more than 226 cultural, artistic,
literary and heritage events, attracting approximately 130,000
visitors. Participants came from 32 countries, including 14 countries
taking part in the cultural exchange program and 10 countries
represented through embassy pavilions. The festival also brought
together 1,300 artists and creatives from Jordan and abroad and was
covered by more than 100 local, Arab and international media outlets,
underscoring its growing regional and international profile.

Rawashdeh said the 40th edition, held amid exceptional regional
circumstances, succeeded in presenting a positive image of Jordan. He
expressed his gratitude to His Majesty King Abdullah II for the Royal
patronage of the festival.

He said this year’s edition aligned with the “Jordanian Narrative…
The Story of the Land and Its People” initiative by highlighting
Jordan’s historical and civilizational depth, strengthening national
identity and promoting openness to global arts and culture, in line
with the festival’s mission as a platform for dialogue and creative
exchange.

He added that the festival also focused on advancing sustainable
development, empowering youth and women, supporting cultural and
creative industries, preserving tangible and intangible heritage, and
enriching Jordan’s cultural and artistic landscape.

Festival Executive Director Yazan Khudair said the event’s success
reflected the efforts of Jordanian state institutions that
contributed to organizing the festival. He noted that the artistic
and cultural program appealed to audiences of all ages and presented
Jordan as a destination for culture and creativity.

Khudair said the festival enjoyed strong attendance across its
various venues. The Southern Theatre hosted leading Arab music stars
alongside prominent Jordanian performers, while the Northern Theatre
featured a diverse program of musical, theatrical, choral and
heritage performances that reflected the festival’s cultural
diversity.

He also highlighted the expansion of performance venues through the
introduction of the Hippodrome Stage and the Zeus Cave, in addition
to strengthening community participation, empowering women, and
supporting artisans and home-based producers, reinforcing the
festival’s developmental role alongside its cultural mission.

Khudair said the festival’s management would build on the
achievements of the 40th edition by incorporating new ideas and
suggestions, enhancing the visitor experience, expanding productive
partnerships with the private cultural sector, and further
strengthening the Jerash Festival’s position as one of the region’s
premier cultural and artistic events.

He thanked the chairman and members of the Higher Committee, the
security services, public and private sector partners, local, Arab
and international media organizations, cultural associations,
professional unions, and the local community of Jerash for their
support.

The Southern Theatre concluded the festival’s program with a
Jordanian music night featuring Bashar Al-Sarhan, Najm Al-Salman and
Ghada Abbasi.

//Petra// AF