The Siwan Festival takes place every year in october when there is a full moon. In 2009 the festival was cancelled due to worries of Swine flu, oh yeah all that worry over? The festival lasts for three days and is a photographers dream, because if your miss the shot you wanted on the first day, you can come back and take it on the next as the feeding of the thousands of people present happens every day. If your a photographer and what to visit and get shots like the one's shown below I took in 2006 at the festival, or you just want to experience it and soak up the atmosphere then, please get in contact and I will let you know what we can offer you and when it is this year. It is a great time to be in Siwa. To see the full set of pictures of the festival click on the arrow head in the middle of the picture below.
It goes on for three days.
There are several theory's on why the festival is held, but they all go something like this. Many years ago, ( there is no written history of siwa) the tribes were fighting each other so much that a traveler, someone outside of the quarrel, suggested every one meet on neutral ground, out next to Dakrur mountain and every one work together to make a feast, for all the tribes. It is assumed the problems where between the east and west tribes, that still go on today, but go to the festival and you will not see people from the western tribes of Siwa.
Each day the whole town is fed from a huge makeshift kitchen.
It is a time for the old boys to reflect,
and the new generation to meet others.
Somewhere Different - Siwa Oasis Shali, Siwa, Egypt . Tel +20 (0)16 53 400 18 ( October - April l)
Somewhere Different - Transylvania Breb, Maramures , Transylvania , Romania. Tel +40 (0) 732 985 600 ( Mid May - August )
