Children enjoy Garangao celebrations at Doha Festival City. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula
Streets of Qatar turned festive and colourful the other night as children in resplendent attire celebrated traditional Garangao. Groups of active children in pompous cultural outfits with bags around their necks went around collecting sweets, nuts and money.
Garangao is a special occasion for children, which allows them to dress colourfully, learn about folklore and have fun during the middle of the month of Ramadan. There are customary Garangao songs sung by children in groups as they wander through the neighbourhood collecting goodies in their little pouches.
Qatar Foundation (QF) at Al Shaqab celebrated Garangao with a number of activities of traditional games and cultural activities, including ‘gaiss’ and ‘dahroui’. Some of the region’s most popular dishes including ‘harees’, ‘khanfaroosh’, and ‘luqaimat’ were also served to the visitors.
QF’s popular National Reading Campaign hosted a series of interactive games for children including scrabble and jigsaw puzzles, while the campaign’s innovative Reading Truck was on hand to provide favorite books and stories for children and families.
Khalifa E Al Kubaisi, Head of Press Office at QF, said: “Qatar Foundation’s annual Garangao activities provide a wonderful opportunity for community members of all ages and backgrounds to come together to honor a beloved regional tradition. Throughout the year, we provide a range of initiatives designed to foster social engagement and encourage people to learn more about Qatar’s culture and traditions, and our Garangao event is just one example.”
Fatin Al Sada, Head of Human Resources at Al Shaqab, told The Peninsula: “Children have enjoyed the most; I have seen them waiting for their turns with excitement. We have tickets for Garangao bags for QR10 and for other activities the tickets are for QR20 and QR30. Most of the young girls are excited to put henna on their hands and boys are looking forward for horse riding. We have distributed gifts to children who are taking part in different competition.”
Doha Festival City hosted the biggest fun-packed Garangao event at the Centre Court – Ground Floor. Over 7,000 children participated in Garangao event. Children were given their mall maps that gave them clues to find and collect candy and nuts all over the Doha Festival City. The Drum Making Workshop, where everyone was given the chance to design and build their own drum, made out of recycled tin containers.
Jenny, mother of three kids said: “This is one of the best ways to entertain kids with treats and the most amazing part was they had to run and find candies taking help from the maps. It is an enjoyable activity in which parents can participate as well. I am glad that we arrived at 7pm and got three of our kids registered on time.”
Over the decades, Garangao and Ramadan have intertwined and with its ambiguous origins, people have come to accept it as a form of cultural celebration which strengthens the relationship of children with their friends, family and their neighbourhood.
In addition, it is also a time when children memorise the Holy Quran and are rewarded with sweets and goodies.
Qatar Youth Hostels (QYH) held an exhibition under the title of "Mal Lawal" at the QYH headquarters located in Luqta. QYH hosted an event representing the heritage and customs of Qatari culture.
Amal Almadeed, Head of Activites and Event at Ministry of Sports and culture, said: “We have hosted traditional activities for children and their parents which include Qatari traditional dishes, dolls, hand-crafted decoration pieces, ladies Garangao wear, photography corner, a small shop of candies and henna corner. We are very happy to see this venue packed with children and their parents.”
Mal Lawal was an open house for everyone including Qatari citizens and expats.
The exhibition was hosted under the patronage of Muhammad Al Yami, Director at QYH in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Culture.
The exhibition included traditional beverages, Qatari food, henna, antiques, ornaments and Qatari artwork and games and gifts for children with self indulgence. All of the activities were totally free of cost and enjoyable with maximum delectation.
Many government and non-government institutions and organisations also celebrated Garangao yesterday.
Commercial Bank, celebrated the joyful tradition of Garangao with fun activities for children in the Bank’s mall branches and amongst the wider Qatari community.
Staff distributed Garangao gifts including traditional sweets and nuts to customers children at Commercial Bank branches. Ibn Ajayan Projects Celebrated Garangao Festival for kids at Asian Town.
