Pics: Baher Amin & Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha: The country has geared up to celebrate its traditional festival Garangao with fervour which falls on 14th night of Ramadan.
Traditional markets like Souq Waqif, Souq Baladi and other major outlets are packed with gift packets of Garangao, comprising nuts, chocolates and candies.
The gifts are showcased at specially decorated place in the outlets, giving a traditional look.
To avoid mixing up of one kind of nut and chocolate with others, because of the expiry dates of products, they are put in small packets inside the gift bundle.
Name of the items with expiry date are printed on each packets following the consumer protection law to ensure the health and safety of people.
“We received Garangao gift packets in large quantity from local suppliers a week ago,” Samiullah Sediqui a shopkeeper operating in Ain Khalid told The Peninsula. He said that the gifts have good demand but it is still less compared to the previous year.
The festival brings echoing memory of Qatari culture and heritage which is narrated by forefathers to their children and grandchildren on the occasion.
To celebrate the festival, girls wear traditional gowns with embroidery and gold jewellery like earrings, necklaces, bangles. And boys wear traditional Qatari dress ‘Thawb’, jackets, and caps.
As per the tradition, children sing ‘Garangao Garangao yatona atawna Allah Yatimkuk, Bait Makka Yuwaddikum (Give us, Allah will give you and send you to Masjid Al Haram in Makkah Al Mukarramah) while visiting their neighbouring houses for gifts.
But this year, they will celebrate the festival at their homes maintaining social distance following the preventive and precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
To compensate the collective celebration which is banned because of social distancing, the Ministry of Culture and Sports has launched an initiative which will enable children to receive gifts, enjoy popular puppet show of the occasion and take a glimpse of their favourite Qatari artists from their homes.
As per the plan, the Ministry will move special buses at the night of Garangao to distribute gifts to children at homes. The gifts will be packed and disinfected properly following the preventive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. Strict measures will be followed to avoid gathering.
The buses will be equipped with loudspeakers playing Garangao songs wishing for the safety, health and happiness for all and to encourage children to know about the traditions of their community.
The celebration will be held in cooperation with a group of sports clubs and some entities affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Sports with full commitment to adhere to the preventive measures.
Director of Sports Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Issa Al Harami said that the celebration is a symbolic initiative aimed at spreading joy in the hearts of children and reviving the popular heritage during the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
He said that 10 sports clubs are participating including Al Rayyan Sports Club, Al Sadd Sports Club, Qatar Sports Club, Al Khor Sports Club, Al Shamal Sports Club, Al Arabi Sports Club, Al Gharafa Sports Club, Umm Salal Sports Club, Al Ahly Sports Club and Al Wakra Sports Club. “Buses will move in the country carrying the logo of the Ministry and the club, equipped with loudspeakers playing Garangao songs,” said Al Harami.
He said that it is difficult to cover all areas of the country but large number of the children will get the gifts of Garangao.
“The Ministry will provide opportunity to everyone to celebrate at their places with the help of Garangao buses which are expected to reach most part of the country,” said Al Harami.
The Director of Sports Affairs explained that the celebration aims to preserve heritage of Qatar, which is passed from one generation to other, and to bring a great joy for people of all ages, especially children who were keen every year to move in groups singing songs of Garangao and folk songs related to this heritage night.
“The Ministry decided to hold these activities in this way to compensate children for what they missed because of the outbreak of coronavirus,” said Al Harami.
Salah Al Mulla an artist from Theatre Affairs Center said that the center will move the bus to a number of streets in Doha starting from after Iftar to bring smile in the faces of the children.
He said that the favorite artists of children including Hadiya Saeed, Mohamad Anwar, Ahmad Afif and Rashid Saad will distribute Garangao gifts to children.
“The puppet shows will be presented through the windows of bus where the children can take a glimpse of their favorite artist,” said Al Mulla.
Qatar Museums (QM) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) have launched ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ campaign, to invite families in Qatar to virtually come together and celebrate Garangao.
This initiative is part of the ongoing partnership between QM and HMC and aims to encourage families to practice safe social distancing while celebrating the traditional night of festivities by sharing children’s photos dressed in traditional Garangao clothes.
The photos submitted will be posted on QM and HMC Instagram pages to spread the joy and happiness of the holy month of Ramadan.
The initiative also aims to promote virtual connections between families and friends, enabling the Garangao tradition to be preserved and celebrated despite these difficult times.
Families that wish to submit their children’s photos can send it via direct message to Qatar Museums’ Instagram account.
