Students from one of the participating schools in the Associated Activities of Qatar National Day, organised by the Ministry of Interior at Lusail Sports Arena, yesterday. Pics: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
Doha: The Lusail Sports Arena burst in festive celebration yesterday as 7,500 students from 17 schools staged spectacular parades and thematic cultural shows as part of the Qatar National Day Associated Activities organised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI).
Dressed in elaborate costumes, the students shone in their performances inspired by Qatari traditions and focused on developments achieved by Qatar in various fields.
“The Associated Activities for the Qatar National Day celebrations for schools have become a major event on the occasion of National Day. I’m very happy to be here today seeing the joy among the participating students who are very keen to be with us in huge number every year,” Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, Director of the Public Relations Department at the MoI, said while speaking to reporters.
Brigadier Al Muftah noted that the number of students taking part in the event every year has been in an upswing.
“The keenness of the schools to participate in this programme with a huge number of students is clearly evident of their happiness in joining their Qatari brothers the in the joy of the National Day and its values,” he stressed.
It was a big celebration of Qatar in a brilliant showcase of creativity and skill of the students in their performance as they competed in different categories including a parade, thematic song and thematic show on Qatar.
Donning colourful costumes and carrying Qatari flags, the competing schools paraded with sculptures of famous landmarks and symbols associated with the country such as the National Museum of Qatar, a Qatar Airways plane, camel, cannon and World Cup trophy, among others.
Thousands in the audience cheered for the different students representing the different competing schools during the cultural show and song contests.
The big crowd also applaud performing troupes from the Indonesian community as they presented cultural numbers including Plate Dance, Kipas Dance and performance of the famous Angklung, a native Indonesian musical instrument made from bamboo. The participating schools included Bangladesh MHM School and College, Bhavans Public School, Birla Public School, Doha Modern Indian School, DPS Modern Indian School, Ideal Indian School, MES Indian School, Noble International School, Olive International School, Pak Shama School, Pakistan International School, Philippine International School Qatar, Philippine School Doha, Rajagiri Public School, Scholars’ International School, Shantiniketan Indian School, and Stafford Sri Lankan School.
The programme for schools has been one of the much-anticipated events which forms an important element of the Associated Activities for the Qatar National Day celebrations which has gone from strength to strength every year.
