The Turkish embassy in Qatar was a site of fun and
festivities last week as the  community gathered in
large numbers to celebrate National Sovereignty
and Children’s Day. By Anand Holla
The rush of festive spirit coursed through the expansive lawns of the Turkish Embassy in Onaiza in refreshing waves of red and white last week. After all, it was that day of the year when diplomacy takes a back seat, gladly letting a sea of children have their time in the sun.
None less than the Father of their Nation, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, had dedicated the day – April 23 – to Turkey’s children so as to emphasise how children are the architects of the future.
That’s because it was on April 23, 1920, that Ataturk established the foundation of a new, secular, independent and modern Turkey by inaugurating the Grand National Assembly in Ankara. Three years later, the convening of the first Turkish Parliament resulted in the declaration of a new nation. Since then, the day is celebrated as National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. Even the Unicef has marked it as the International Children’s Day.
The Embassy premises – possibly the largest of all embassies in Qatar – were smartly decked up with a whole lot of balloons and flags, in the colours of the Turkish national flag that features a white crescent moon and star on a red background. The venue was thrown open to the Turkish community numbering 8,000 in Qatar, nearly a tenth of which must have thronged the event.
Turkish kids, either clad in red and white outfits or with flags painted on their faces, were seen having a merry time with their family and friends. From feasting on cotton candy, sweet dishes and popcorn, to tucking into happy meals accompanied by their favourite colas, there was no stopping them from having a ball in the garden as they played games and ran around.
After observing a moment of silence in memory of Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and all the martyrs, the programme began with all joining for the national anthem. Following the speeches of Turkey’s Ambassador to Qatar, Ahmet Demirok, and the chief guest of the evening, former Turkish president Abdullah Gul – who was also accompanied by his wife Hayrunnisa Gul – the evening opened to a series of adorable performances by children.
Traditional Turkish dance Çiftetelli won the audience over as six little girls swayed to some cool, folk music. Following a poem recital by Betul Gulec, the Children’s Choir swung into a bunch of songs: Bugün 23 Nisan, Hos gelisler Ola,   23 Nisan Kutlu Olsun, Oynaya Oynaya Gelin Çocuklar, Bugün Bayram, and We are the World. By the way, Nisan means April in Turkish.
Following another poem recital – Yasasın 23 Nisan by Duru Topcu – four boys from Al Rashad School performed the traditional Qatari sword dance. Another poem titled Ataturk was then read by Ipek Bayhan, before half a dozen children dove into an entertaining Merengue dance performance, and Beren Kaptanoglu finished off the round of performances by reciting the poem 23 Nisan.
For the Turks in Qatar, it is events such as this, which, every once in a while, makes them not miss home. Organised by Qatar’s Turkish community and the Turkish Embassy, the cheery evening, purely by how it brought people together and forged new bonds, paid tribute to Ataturk’s remarkable foresight in celebrating the day of the children, for the children, by the children.