HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
The decision to cancel the Sidi Larbi Bouhali festival, which is one of the most prominent cultural and religious events in the Khemisset region, sparked surprise and discontent among a number of visitors and those interested, especially in the absence of official clarifications regarding the reasons behind this decision.
The festival, which is organized annually and attracts thousands of visitors, including prominent figures, is considered a vital occasion for boosting the local economy, where commercial activity thrives significantly, and many groups benefit from it, from street vendors, artisans, and providers of traditional services, in addition to the temporary job opportunities that the event provides. It also constitutes the most important annual outlet for the residents of the Zemmour, Tawazit, and Beni Hassan tribes, who are accustomed to participating in its cultural and religious events, headed by the traditional equestrian shows "Tabourida". Despite the fact that the governor of the province, who assumed his position coming from the Ministry of National Territorial Planning, Urbanism, Housing and City Policy, did not provide any explanation regarding the cancellation decision, the irony lies in the continued organization of other festivals in the province and the permission to hold "Tabourida" shows in them. In light of this situation, a number of visitors and local actors expressed their hope that the decision would be reconsidered, and a later date would be set for organizing the festival, in order to preserve the continuity of this cultural and religious heritage, and to support the economic and social dynamics that it creates in the region annually.
