DOHA: The third edition of the Halal Hal Qatar Festival concludes today at Katara.
The 10-day event has been successful with sales of sheep and goats during auctions having crossed QR500,000.
Nasser bin Saif Al Kuwari, Head of Al Mazad (public auction) committee said sales as on the eighth day reached QR550,000. A male Syrian sheep fetched QR36,000, the highest.
A total of QR400,000 is given away every day as prizes at Al Mazayen, a beauty contest for sheep and goats, said Mohammad Al Khulaifi, Festival Director.
Many people have attended the festival, especially families in large numbers. The handicraft section, children’s play area and entertainment are among the highlights this year which have attracted families, some from other Arab countries.
The handicraft section at the traditional souq has also been attracting visitors for locally made traditional products such as abayas, honey, perfumes, baskets, and Arabian swords.
Ida Umm Khalid, a handicraft professional, said: “I hope this festival continues because it is attracting many people and reviving this important aspect of our culture, especially because not many professionals look to traditional handicraft nowadays.”
The traditional perfumes and incense section has also generated a lot of interest from buyers, mostly from Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring GCC countries. They purchased specially concocted perfumes using ingredients that suit their desired scents.
The Peninsula
