A model of the Ramadan crescent decorates a street in Katara (Al Jazeera)

Doha

- Between streets decorated with flags and lights that take traditional and religious forms, and various events and exhibitions, the Katara Cultural Village and Souq Waqif in Qatar remain major destinations for the public during the holy month of Ramadan.

The activities in the two distinct locations are varied in a way that suits all groups, both old and young, as Ramadan evenings are frequent for citizens and residents in these heritage places, which are also considered a major tourist destination for many visitors who come to Qatar from all over the world.

As soon as you set foot on the streets of Katara, you will find dazzling lights with their unique, attractive shapes that take the form of large lamps embodying various images of the famous Ramadan lanterns surrounding both sides of the roads. The matter is not much different in Souq Waqif, which attracts thousands daily, especially at breakfast time to watch the Ramadan cannon, which Adults and children line up around it to watch this distinctive heritage tradition.

These two destinations include many diverse restaurants that serve all popular, oriental and Gulf foods amidst buildings characterized by the old architectural character that adorns the buildings of shops, hotels and others in a way that makes these two places distinguished by a special character over the years.

The classic car parade is a daily event in Katara (the island)

24 main events

Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Events at Katara, Khaled Al-Sayed, said in a statement to Al Jazeera Net that Katara always remains the largest and most important destination during the month of Ramadan due to the many and varied activities it features throughout the holy month, pointing out that during this year there are 24 diverse main events. They are organized over the course of the month.

The cultural official added that the activities include religious lessons and activities, the thirteenth session of the Qur’an memorization competition, the breakfast cannon in Katara, an evening on World Poetry Day, and the “We Help and Cooperate” campaign, which is the distribution of a food basket to meet the needs of needy families during the holy month.

The same spokesman added that the events also include the beach volleyball tournament, the evening, Garangao night, the “Iftar the Fasting” campaign, and Ramadan Katara nights, which include various entertainment events and competitions, as well as the Katara Ramadan Chess Championship, the Chinese Car Exhibition, the Electronic Games Championship, and the “Carrom” Championship. "And the last one."

He explained that the events also include the Katara Award for Arabic Poetry - Mothers of the Believers, the Spirit of the Arabic Letter exhibition, the Islamic stamps exhibition, the photography competition, the most beautiful car competition, the 25th Ramadan auction of stamps and coins, an exhibition mentioned in the Qur’an, and a question and answer competition.

Beautifying the streets of Katara with lights in the shapes of huge Ramadan lanterns (Al Jazeera)

Main destination

Khaled Al-Sayed pointed out that the Katara Award for Manuscripts and Archaeological Areas is being organized for the first time this year, stressing the keenness for the activities to be diverse so as to include all categories and cover all fields, making the Katara Cultural Village the major and main destination for many audiences during the Holy Month.

Al-Sayed added that the moderate weather and climate make Katara also a destination for exercising on the beach, and that many young people organize daily parades of classic and modern cars and motorcycles before breakfast, an event that attracts a lot of people, especially photography enthusiasts and rare classic car enthusiasts.

He pointed out that Katara includes many heritage and modern streets that attract the public, especially since they contain areas for various restaurants and shopping areas, which makes the Cultural District maintain its position among the first destinations for the public during the month of Ramadan, and even throughout the year as well.

One of the Tasbih shops in the heritage Souq Waqif (Al Jazeera)

Landmark

The situation is not much different in Souq Waqif than in Katara, where heritage buildings attract everyone, diverse restaurants, crafts, popular events, and shopping areas that are a destination for many people during the holy month.

The director of Souq Waqif, Mohammed Al Salem, said in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that the market is considered a prominent landmark in the heart of Doha and a destination for all visitors to Qatar, its citizens and residents, explaining that the market has gained additional popularity since the World Cup in Qatar 2022, as it was the main stop for the public of all affiliations, which It makes it at the forefront of the entertainment areas that everyone searches for, especially during the month of Ramadan.

He continued that the Ramadan cannon in the market is a major event, as families gather to watch it during the sunset call to prayer, and iftar meals are distributed to everyone, amounting to 1,500 meals a day, in addition to distributing gifts and toys for participating children, which makes this event the most attractive daily, especially families.

The same spokesman added that Souq Waqif during the month of Ramadan has a special flavor for citizens and residents, as traditional popular dishes are available, and friends meet to chat in restaurants or cafes spread throughout the market.

The Ramadan Cannon event in Souq Waqif is the most attractive to the public daily (Al Jazeera)

old history

Muhammad Al-Salem explained that Souq Waqif has an ancient history in the region, and includes many services such as restaurants, hotels and markets, which provide products at significantly low prices, which explains the great demand for it during Ramadan and throughout the year as well.

The market official pointed out that Waqif is witnessing a great demand for the purchase of incense burners, rosaries, nuts, spices, perfumes and other materials and products provided by the stores at very reasonable prices that are monitored by the market management.

He pointed out that the market also celebrates the Garangao event, which is an ancient heritage night that takes place on the fourteenth of the holy month of Ramadan, where gifts, sweets and nuts are distributed to children, and the Musaharati event is also organized, which roams the streets of the market to revive this ancient tradition that brings joy and happiness to the public.

The same source pointed out that many market stores place distinctive lights and flags during the holy month, in participation with the public in expressing joy and happiness with the arrival of the month of Ramadan, as everyone competes to highlight the aesthetic form of the lights that express the month of Ramadan, whether through large lanterns or branches. Hanging lights.

Al-Salem concluded that Souq Waqif is the first main destination for all the people of the Arabian Gulf in particular to live the experience of the past that they hear about from their fathers and grandfathers. The market also provides places for Arab families to gather, as it provides the privacy that every family desires.

Source: Al Jazeera