The K-State Saudi Club and the Union Program Council came together Thursday to present the November Uniting People and Cultures event on Saudi culture.
    The hour-long event took place at noon in the K-State Student Union Courtyard.
    “I hope that me being here will help Americans see how Saudis really are and behave,” said Mansour Asiri, sophomore in mechanical engineering. “We are not that different.”
    The celebration included a performance of the traditional Saudi folklore dance called the Ardha. Saudi Club members wrote names for audience members in Arabic. There was also an area for observers to don traditional Saudi dress and take photos of themselves.
    The presentation included a 10-minute Saudi slideshow presentation, as well as traditional Arabic dishes provided by the UPC, who paid for all the festivities.
     The food consisted of traditional Saudi dishes, curry chicken, tabouli and baklava. The Saudi Club also offered Arabic coffee and dates.
    “Arabic coffee and dates are usually found everywhere in Saudi Arabia. Coffee is a symbol of respect and generosity and are always served together,” said Meshari Alnahari, senior in mechanical engineering and president-elect of the Saudi Club.
    The Saudi Club consists mostly of Saudi natives or people of Saudi descent. The club is sponsored by the Saudi Cultural Mission based out of Washington, D.C., and is group for Saudis and others to preserve and celebrate the Saudi culture.
     “Some Americans maybe think that Saudis are still living with camels and in the desert. So we are letting them know that we have made a lot of improvements in Saudi Arabia,” Alnahari said. “Also, we hope to let them know about our daily habits.”
    Alnahari served as the event’s coordinator.
    The Ardha dance begins with a line of poetry, which is sung and repeated. The performers traditionally wield swords, but they were not part of this particular presentation.
    “Swords were used for dancing and celebrating instead of fighting after King Abdullaziz united Saudi Arabia, just to show the good picture of celebrating,” said Bayram Mohammed, sophomore in industrial engineering.
    The Ardha Thursday consisted of four different performances. The first was the Najdi Ardha, which is the official dance of Saudi Arabia; the second, called the Hejaz Ardha, came from the western region of Saudi Arabia; the third came from the southern region of Saudi Arabia; the fourth came from the Eastern Province, said Saud Alfahaid, sophomore in electrical engineering.
    Alfahaid is the current president of the Saudi Club.
    “The Ardha used to be performed before warriors would meet their enemies in battle,” Alfahaid said. “It demonstrates that they have no fear of fighting and it is used to stir up enthusiasm amongst soldiers and leaders.”
    The Saudi Club and UPC encompassed a wide variety of Saudi culture in the hopes of promoting a better cultural understanding.
    “I always like when K-State does anything to bring other people’s culture to campus,” said Melanie Hall, sophomore in pre-medicine and psychology.

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