Children with cartoon characters during the Eid celebration at Souq Waqif Al Wakrah. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
Katara’s Eid Al Fitr Festival concluded yesterday with a spectacular fireworks display- a fitting culmination to four festive days of activities and entertainment.
The annual festival offered a blend of spirituality, family ties, physical activities and entertainment.
This year’s festivities saw crowds arrive early in the evenings, as most visitors, especially those with children, were keen to have enough time to enjoy the activities and events that had been set up across Katara’s premises.
A captivating music and dance extravaganza titled, Fantasia, held the audience spellbound. The show, based on the ‘1001 Arabian Nights’ was a visual treat, with performers dressed in vivid costumes, performing to lively Arab-inspired music with 3D light and sound effects.
The ‘Alien Show’ was a huge draw, especially among the younger visitors, with some of the guests visiting Katara only to watch the show. Stalls featuring gifts and giveaways (Eideyaa), delighted visitors, especially those with children.
In addition, the lively and interactive storytelling sessions on Arab heritage were a hit amongst the families, especially those keen to learn more about the region’s culture and heritage. The sessions featured tales from the 1001 Nights, Aladdin and Sinbad.
The beach front was packed with people who were keen to make the most of their holidays by engaging in water sports.
The festivities served as a grand finale to the Katara Ramadan Festival which comprised exhibitions, story-telling events, treasure hunts, competitions and sports tournaments.
This year’s organizing committee ensured that the Eid festivities catered to everyone’s tastes through a variety of offerings including food stalls, exhibitions, dance performances, story-telling sessions, giveaways and fireworks.
Aside from the activities and events, a large number of food stalls offering multi-cultural cuisines attracted many visitors eager to sample them. Cafes and ice cream vendors saw brisk trade during the festival.
