AL-BAHA: The rhythmic chants, sharp whistle calls and military-style marches of Al-Assah, the traditional village guards of Saudi Arabia’s southwest, are transporting visitors back in time at the ninth Al-Atawilah Heritage Festival in Al-Baha Region.
Dressed in carefully recreated historical uniforms, performers bring to life the men once responsible for maintaining order and protecting villages, offering festival-goers a glimpse into a chapter of local history that has largely disappeared from everyday life.
The reenactments, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Sunday, feature disciplined parades and ceremonial drills that reflect the duties once carried out by Al-Assah, whose presence was a familiar sight in villages across the region.
The event showcases Al-Baha’s rich heritage through traditional arts. (SPA)
Their performances have become one of the festival’s most popular attractions, drawing crowds eager to photograph the guards and learn about the role they played in safeguarding their communities.
