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Tribune News Network
Doha
FAMILIES from across the country enjoyed a fun and festive atmosphere at Qatar Foundation's (QF) Garangao celebrations at Al Shaqab on Thursday evening.
QF's Garangao activities this year featured a range of traditional games and cultural activities, including 'gaiss' and 'dahroui', specially designed for the entire family to enjoy. Visitors were also able to sample some of the region's most popular dishes, including 'harees', 'khanfaroosh' and 'luqaimat'.
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 favourite books and stories for children and families.
Young visitors also had the chance to meet Rashid and Noura, their favourite characters from 'Siraj', QF's animated educational TV series that aims to instil a love of the Arabic language from an early age.
Khalifa E. al Kubaisi, Head of Press Office, QF, said:"Qatar Foundation's annual Garangao activities provide a wonderful opportunity for community members of all ages and backgrounds to come together to honour 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."
A number of QF centres took part in this year's Garangao celebrations with activities including a planetarium show organised by Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI); puzzle and wheel games by Qatar Biobank; and planting activities hosted by Qur'anic Botanic Garden (QBG). Additionally, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) gave visitors the opportunity to learn more about medicine through role-playing as doctors in the activity 'Annie'.
Eman Ibrahim, a Qatari mother who took part in the activities, said:"I'm here with my three children. They really liked the games, and they're very excited about getting henna done."
She added:"It's very important that Qatar Foundation organises activities like these. To have all these people here tonight learn more about our culture and see all our traditional games and wonderful facilities, it's great. Both children and adults alike can learn so much about our rich heritage through such activities."
Garangao is a popular children's festival held annually across the Gulf region following the breaking of fast on the 14th night of Ramadan. QF's Garangao celebrations are part of its commitment to preserving Qatari traditions, and, this year, the activities reflected its overarching Ramadan themes mercy, honesty, generosity and tolerance which are aligned with QF's recently-announced Akhlaquna Award.
