HRH Princess Basma tours the 49th Diplomatic Bazaar at Al Hussein Youth City in Amman on Saturday

AMMAN — At a time when the international political scene stands divided on many issues, the annual 49th Diplomatic Bazaar brought together 51 embassies in Amman on Saturday to present their cultures and promote peace to thousands of visitors.

“Everyone is next to each other, and countries may not be able to communicate at the UN level, but here everyone cooperates,” Susmita Dastidar, president of American Women of Amman said.

From Brazil to Saudi Arabia through China, ambassadors and visitors alike toured the one-day bazaar’s stalls at Al Hussein Youth City to discover and celebrate multi-culturalism away from the complications of the current political scene.

For the Canadian Parent family, whose members have been in the country for only two months, the bazaar was an occasion to buy artworks and handicrafts from remote countries such as Brazil or China, but it went beyond promoting various cultures and civilisations.

“We are surrounded by countries facing internal divisions, and bringing together cultures and people can help bridge the gaps and foster mutual understanding,” Dany Parent, from the Canadian embassy, said.

Jordanian Eid Lozi has been supporting the bazaar for fifteen years, and he had just bought glasses from the Chinese stall, happy to have the opportunity to find unique items from other cultures.

“I also brought my four- and six-year-old children because I believe it is important for children to know about different cultures and countries,” he said.

Participants commended the fact that all the proceeds of the buzzing diplomatic market will go for supporting Mabarrat Um Al Hussein, a home for orphaned and underprivileged boys established in 1958 by the late Queen Zein Al Sharaf to improve orphans’ living conditions.

The 49th edition of the bazaar was a first for Olena Radchenko, a secretary at the Ukrainian embassy, who wore the traditional dress while explaining about the various traditional souvenirs displayed at her booth.

“I am happy to be here to support this charity, it is a great initiative,” she said.

Some of the Mabarrat children were attending the event, guiding visitors through the numerous stalls and helping them carry the treasures they bought on the way.

Mohammad Al Ghazou has been helping out at the bazaar for the past nine years and knows his way around the venue, sliding around the alleys with his cart.

“I have been here for every bazaar since I joined the [Mabarrat], I get to learn about new people, new cultures [and] new food, and there is the Brazilian stand which is cool because I love football and they are teaching us how to play at Mabarrat,” the 17-year old said before he had to roll away and assist visitors.

In her address at the opening of the bazaar, HRH Princess Basma expressed her gratefulness to the diplomatic corps of Jordan for their “continuous support” of the Mabarrat and ended by quoting one young man who grew up at the centre.

“It is difficult to put into words the gratitude we feel… knowing that so many people have gathered together to help someone like me,” he had said, according to the princess.

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