Halal Qatar Festival, organised by Katara for the sixth consecutive year, continues to “amaze visitors with its distinctive variety of activities”, the Cultural Village Foundation has said in a press statement.
The festival is scheduled to run until March 4 in Katara’s southern area.
The event has received a large number of visitors from all walks of life since it opened to the public on Friday, according to Katara, which stressed that the major elements on view are a revival of the Qatari culture and heritage – with the festival “providing a snapshot of Qatar’s ancestral way of life to the upcoming generations”, the preservation of the Arabic identity and Islamic culture, and the introduction to Qatari heritage by revealing the country’s traditions.
The organising committee has sought to create a festival that builds on the event’s success by offering new contests and issuing new conditions and regulations. An expansion of the sixth edition of the festival involves more prizes, including the distribution of 27 cars to winners.
Other prizes include the shepherd’s crook, which is considered to be of great value to the shepherd, as he uses it to escort and guide his sheep, lean on it, and it also aids him in defending himself from any threat or danger.
The crook is sculpted from rich German beech wood and will be dedicated to the winners who bag the first position in Halal Qatar competitions.
In addition, the crook is gold-plated and contains handmade copper designs.
The festival also features a series of traditional tents showcasing Qatari handicrafts such as rug weaving, wool dying and quilt making.
A ‘children’s tent’ depicting folklore performances was seen to draw in large families over the weekend, as did other stalls that presented objects that reflected the Qatari heritage, and displayed mummified animals and other traditional objects, the statement noted.
In addition, a playground for children has been set up to encourage families to attend the festival and make the most of the pleasant weather.
Another major attraction is a traditional market, inspired by ancient Qatari architecture, which displays the day-to-day staples in a Qatari household. The venue is also dotted with kiosks selling traditional dishes such as madroobah, harees, balaleet and biryani, and traditional Arabic lounges embodying the warmth and hospitality of the Qatari culture.
The morning session of the festival, from 9am until noon, will be dedicated to informative school trips from today. The afternoon session – from 4pm until 10pm – will be open to the general public.