ROSES FESTIVAL

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R O S E S F E S T I V A L

The spring season in Kalaat Magouna coincides with the time of rose blossoms picking. Since ancient times, people of the citadel have been keen on honoring this famous flower Rosa Damascena for its unique fragrance. It used to be a local seasonal celebration until it gained a wide popularity turning into a big festival, eagerly awaited by fans from various Moroccan cities. Corporate partners and local cooperatives, producing rose water, have also added an international character to it by attracting foreign tourists.

I traveled from Tangier to Kalaat M'gouna, named after the citadel of Damask roses located on the banks of Dades and M'Gouna rivers. We paused in Marrakech to relax and have a light breakfast. After stocking up with enough water to help us on the way, we took a 10 am bus, arriving at the castle at 5 pm the same day. The journey began when the small muddy red villages started appearing along the road. The spectacular view on the famous Tishka peak and the diverse landscapes opened up before our eyes as we drove along. The road was bumpy from time to time and the sharp turns made even the most experienced travelers uncomfortable, but our driver would stop to let everyone rest. So, we continued on our journey along the river, admiring a number of almond, walnut and olive trees, and local women carrying the harvest on their backs. Some women, selling freshly picked products along the road, shyly covered their faces to avoid tourist cameras. We continued driving until we passed California - I mean - Ouarzazate, the Moroccan Hollywood, a well-known film-making studio, widely used by international movie production companies and open for the public to visit. Here, as we listened to taxi drivers complaining about the high price of fuel, we drove through the final stretch of road until we managed to at last reach our destination.

Picking roses is considered suitable work for women living close to the mountain town of Kalaat M'gouna, located in the southeast of Morocco.
The city of daggers and sand waters scattered along the banks of the Dades River offer their visitors a vast variety of Damask roses.

Kalaat M'gouna is located in the south-east of Morocco. Previously, it held a small celebration in honour of the Damascus rose. After that, the celebration was transformed into a festival. In 2012, it became a local festival with an international character because the visitors of Kalaat M’gouna and the owners of foreign companies with local rose-water distilleries added to it an international reach. Locally, it extended to reach all the villages next to Kalaat M'gouna and all the cities of Morocco.

The Festival of Roses has maintained its essential functions, "The Carnival and the Queen of Roses". However, since 1963, after it grew in popularity and became an internationally recognised festival, many new features were added. In 2012, scientific and academic symposia were added to the events schedule.

Throughout the four days of festivities, local arts groups participated, diversely rich in their traditional dresses, reflecting their local landscapes and singing in Tamazight. Some local music

bands, including "Rokba", "AHIDOUS" and the "LOUZ IMGRANE" performed shows. There were also local associations dealing with people with disabilities, difficult situations, women and children who were present as well.

The 12 contestants for the title "Queen of Roses" wore the traditional dresses of the citadel. From Caftans, black and white Izars (a traditional loose garment), Moroccan slippers ( Belgha ), Tasmert (worn on the waist), to braided hair, and tasbenit of soft red silk on the head, put on women's hair.

Traditionally, the “Queen of the Roses” pageant would only allow contestants from Kalaat M’gouna to participate, as its criteria was based on cultural heritage and customs. Recently however, this has been changed, which allowed for a Chinese contestant to take part.

The Moroccan and Chinese Arbitration Committee ( set up a Chinese contestant in the festival ) set criteria for choosing the queen of beauty, They were represented in : "beauty of the face, beauty and harmony of the body, beauty of indignation, and the beauty of the movement.

The young woman Soukaina won the title that year. But the title of the « queen of roses » dilute in favor of movement and body, instead of the original criteria, were the Queen must be a daughter of the castle, who has grown up in her customs and tradition, aware of its heritage, so that the competition becomes fiercer for who distinct by her culture and knowledge. But the tendency of the jury in the last two years for the title of "beauty queen" ended the contest of enthusiasm and raised the hope among the present.

The citadel of Kalaat M’gouna could be a source of money for the town and its habitat if the authorities give some importance to this historic place.

On the last day of the festival, all the participants parade before the public wearing traditional outfits and singing songs. Quite often the festival features a show for everyone interested as well as welcoming a few important guests from this region. Fantasia, a traditional exhibition of horsemanship, also takes place. Fantasia is considered a cultural performance or a kind of a martial art that symbolizes a strong relationship between the man and the horse, as well as an attachment to traditions.

The rose festival is not only a celebration of tradition and culture but also a space for the city and people of Kalaat M'gouna to create economic and cultural opportunities for themselves. It is also a moment and a place of joy for Moroccan and foreign visitors who come to admire the roses and their products.