Horse riders in traditional attire seen on Katara's beach, during preparations for the Qatar National Day celebrations. In the background are some dhows.
Katara, the Cultural Village Foundation, is organising a wide range of activities for its visitors on Thursday and Friday, including the launch of the all-new 'Katara FM' radio station, as part of the Qatar National Day celebrations
Military, horses and motorcycle parades, boat shows, heritage tents, cultural contests, power parachuting, and awareness initiatives are on the itinerary. The festivities are organised in collaboration with more than 20 different public and private institutions.
During the two-day programme, Katara will witness a number of marine activities including a sailboat show and dhows decorated with Qatari flags cruising along the seashore.
The Cultural Village's beach will also host children games and activities while 11,000 LED and helium-filled balloons will be released on Katara's Corniche over the two days.
Between 2pm and 5pm, military shows will be one of the celebrations' highlights. The Qatar Amiri Guard will showcase 14 horses in national costumes. Some horses will tour Katara's alleyways, and engage in a silent military parade.
Lekhwiya and the Qatari Armed Forces will perform paratrooper shows with fireworks and photo displays of the national flag.
Heritage tents include a poetry house for Al Galayel Championship featuring displays of the achievements of Al Galayel and a car exhibition, as well as the Childhood Cultural Centre tent, which will host activities including projects made by schools’ students.
Other organisations taking part in Katara's celebrations with cultural activities and awareness initiatives include Qatar Heritage and Identity Centre, Qatar Petrochemical Company, Bedaya Centre, The Qatari Cultural & Social Centre for the Deaf, and Al Faisal Social Responsibility Centre.
Sport buffs will be able to participate in various sports activities, traditional games and popular competitions while car enthusiasts will get the chance to join Al Nahdi Group's cars decoration contest, watch Al-Adaam Team for Motorbikes decorated with Qatari flags or a classic cars exhibition held by a group of car amateurs.
Other exhibitions hosted by Katara as part of QND celebrations include Embrace Doha Organisation's heritage exhibition for school students, Qatar Photographic Society's 'Qatar is our Pride' exhibition, as well as the Spirit of the Desert exhibition; a showcase of drawings with Qatari and Khaliji sands to express Qatari modern and ancient heritage performed by a Bosnian artist, who is also a diplomat in the embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Doha.
Katara's visitors will also be able to sign an autograph book with words of loyalty and love to Qatar, and have the opportunity to get the photographs taken by the 'Katara Touring Studio'. The Cultural Village will host the 'Katara Cultural Market', which will sell clothes, gifts, Islamic antiques, ceramics and other goods, and will also inaugurate 'Katara FM' radio broadcast, with a special programme covering the National Day.
On Wednesday, Katara hosted a lecture by Qatar University History Professor Dr Abdul Qadir al-Qahtani on the humanitarian side of the country's founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani.
A full schedule of Katara's QND celebrations programme is available for download at http://www.katara.net/english/event/qatar-national-day-2/
