The Qatari Students Association (QSA) at Texas A&M University at
Qatar (Tamuq) yesterday organised a special cultural event ‘Mal Lawal’,
to highlight Qatari culture and traditions.
Held outside Tamuq’s link atrium door, the event attracted faculty and
staff members of the university as well as a number of visitors who were
treated to traditional Qatari food and beverages.
The event provided the members of the community with an insight into
Qatari culture and values. Through a range of colourful stalls, visitors
learnt about traditional dress, greeting rituals, and sword dance. The
QSA is one of the largest student-led groups at Tamuq that encourages
Qatari students to volunteer and contribute to their community whenever
possible.
Mohamed al-Mansouri, president, QSA and an electrical engineering 4th
year student said that the event was aimed at two types of audiences.
‘Mal Lawal’ means old days. For Qataris, we like to relive the good old
days.
For the non-Qataris, we want to showcase the Qatari culture in a new
sophisticated way. We are teaching everyone Qatari practices and values.
We show them how to serve coffee; how to greet each other, wear
traditional dress as well as to dance with sword. We are also doing a
simulation of the wedding ceremony for the females,” explained
al-Mansouri.
“We have a small museum of all the equipment that were used for pearl
diving in the old days. We are also providing some traditional Qatari
food. We also have showcased the model of a Land Cruiser from the 70s as
Land Cruiser also has become part of our community from the 1960s. All
the products displayed at the event are made by the students,”
continued, al-Mansouri.
According to QSA president, the association was formed from a small
students club with a handful of students. “We began by forming a student
club. It was just about a handful of students in the beginning and now
it has become a big organisation of more than 70 students. We all work
together and arrange and manage several events. We have already
conducted several events at the Education City. So, we decided to do a
new cultural event named Mal Awal at our campus,” he noted.
“We have a very strong Qatari students association and they are very
active. They arrange many events to highlight Qatari culture and
celebrate them. Over 56% of our students are Qataris. We promote student
governments in the university and they have formed several clubs,”
added Dr Cesar Malave, Dean, Tamuq.
Dr Cesar Malave, dean, Tamuq, tries the traditional sword dance with some of the students. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil