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