RIYADH: The Mexican community in Riyadh gathered at the official residence of Ambassador Alfredo Miranda on Sunday to celebrate their country’s National Day. They were joined at the event by VIP guests including members of the royal family, diplomats and business leaders. Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar represented the Saudi government at the colorful celebration, marking the 208th anniversary of Mexico’s independence. The centerpiece of the festivities was a re-enactment of the “Cry of Dolores,” a historic event in small town of Dolores on the morning of September 16, 1810, when Mexico’s founding father, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, issued a call to arms that signaled the start of the war of independence. The rest of the National Day celebration was a Mexican-style fiesta, filled with color and music, with many of the guests dressed in traditional outfits. They enjoyed authentic Mexican food prepared by renowned chef Eduardo Perez, which offered a taste of the Mexican Gastronomic Festival at the city’s InterContinental Hotel from Sept. 17 to 22. The entertainment also included the Kingdom’s first a live performance by a Mexican folkloric Mariachi band, a musical style recognized by UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.