DOHA: Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) celebrated the upcoming National Day with a day of learning, food and fun for students, faculty, staff and the Education City community.
Celebrations were held early since GU-Q will be on winter break for holiday, but that didn’t stop it from displaying its national pride with a heritage festival on the grassy manicured grounds of the school.
It was organised by Qatari students.
“National Day is an occasion where people meet to express their love and loyalty to the nation. That’s why we wanted to celebrate with our colleagues and share our culture with them,” said Kholoud Hayder, a sophomore majoring in culture and politics and one of the student organisers.
To welcome expats and locals to the spirit of the holiday, participants were encouraged to wear traditional Qatari clothes. Extra abayas and thobes were made available for anyone wanting to take part.
On a paved area outside the main building, students set up a Qatari majlis. A few steps away, a ‘dukkan’, or small traditional market stall, displayed food, reflecting a simpler time before Qatar’s development introduced shopping malls and global products to the local market. Preserved animal specimens displayed the wide diversity of Qatar’s desert wildlife.
A Qatari craftsman worked on building a beautiful and meticulously detailed model dhow, the traditional pearling and fishing boat used for centuries, as he was surrounded by finished boats on display.
The role of fishing in Qatar’s seaside communities was represented by a fisherman on hand to answer questions as he made quick work of untangling volumes of woven rope.
Qatari women poured ladles of creamy batter onto sizzling black metal plates to make the delicate local delicacy known as crepes, which visitors followed with steaming cups of fragrant and sweet karak tea.
Traditional gahwa, or coffee, as well as dates and other local culinary treats were offered free to guests.
GU-Q is also taking part in National Day festivities in the Qatar Foundation tent at Darb Al Saai.
The Peninsula
