A view of the River Nile, Cairo. Courtesy of Galen Frysinger.
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Wafaa Al-Nil Festival
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When:
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Aug 2008 (annual)
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Where:
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Cairo
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The Wafaa Al-Nil Festival, meaning "Fidelity of the Nile", is an annual celebration that remembers the ancient Egyptian veneration of the river Nile.
As the symbol of life, the Nile was cherished by the Pharaohs, who used to sacrifice beautiful girls to the river, believing that it would guarantee a good harvest.
Today, celebrations are not quite as brutal, and the Tohoti Group for Egyptian Studies has organised a more contemporary version of the event. There are art competitions for children, poetry readings, concerts and scientific discussions.
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