ALULA: The historic Tantora Ceremony will be revived in AlUla Old Town on Monday, reaffirming one of the region’s most distinctive cultural traditions while also being a cornerstone of its intangible heritage.
The Tantora is a sundial that residents once relied on to mark the start of the agricultural season and the arrival of Al-Marba’aniyah, a key winter period, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This year’s ceremony forms part of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s efforts to preserve cultural heritage and make it a part of contemporary public life.
The program features a range of activities highlighting the Tantora’s historic role and enduring significance. Visitors can expect traditional performances, artisan showcases, and sessions that explore how the Tantora was used, alongside demonstrations that evoke everyday life in AlUla’s past.
The event will deepen public understanding of the Tantora as one of AlUla’s most notable expressions of intangible heritage. By revisiting its connection to seasonal change, winter’s onset and agricultural preparation, the ceremony will shed light on the rhythms that once shaped life in the region.
