The city of Luxor witnessed at dawn today, Sunday, the phenomenon of the sun aligning with the Holy of Holies at Karnak Temple, which is being celebrated for the ninth consecutive year with tourism and art events attended by archaeologists, astronomers and a number of citizens and tourists, as part of Luxor Governorate's efforts to promote tourism.
Some 4,000 tourists and citizens came to watch the astronomical phenomenon, which occurs once a year. The celebrations began with a gathering in the courtyard of Karnak Temple and kicked off with a Tanoura show and a sound and light show, followed by a musical performance throughout the temple during sunrise, from 6:40 a.m. until 7 a.m., as the sun entered through the eastern gate of Karnak Temple, cast its rays along the temple's main axis and entered the Holy of Holies.
Hassan El-Gilany, Director General of Tourism Development in Luxor, said the governorate's authorities are keen to celebrate this occasion, which coincides with the beginning of winter, as part of their efforts to diversify their tourism activities and attract more tourists by promoting what is known as "astronomical tourism."
Ayman Abou Zeid, head of the Egyptian Society for Tourism and Archaeological Development, added, as part of the tourism promotion of the astronomical event, that efforts are being made to put a number of astronomical events inside the ancient Egyptian temples in Luxor on the governorate's tourism agenda, and that a promotional campaign for astronomical tourism in Luxor will be launched on January 6, 2020, coinciding with the celebration of the sun's alignment with the Holy of Holies of Queen Hatshepsut's Temple on Luxor's West Bank.
