By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
Enchanting music from traditional instruments captivated thousands of spectators who gathered at Katara - the Cultural Village yesterday on the second day of the first Asean festival in Doha.
The audience had the opportunity to experience an evening of native music performed by artistes from seven Asean countries - the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Cultural dances, backed by the beat of bamboo sticks and drums, fascinated the crowd who stayed at Katara until the programme ended.
Visitors also had the chance to savour cuisines of the Asean region at food stalls set up at the Katara esplanade.
Handicrafts showcased at various booths were also a big hit. These include Batik clothes and handkerchiefs from Indonesia, home decorations from Vietnam and Thailand, and traditional dresses from Malaysia.
“This is the kind of event that I always wanted to see in Doha. Just listening to the music makes you wonder how beautiful the culture and history of these countries are,” said Michael Pitterman, a regular visitor to Katara.
He said he hoped the Asean festival would be staged annually at Katara, describing it as one of the finest cultural shows he had seen.
The three-day event, which concludes today, also saw a large number of families visiting the tourism booths of the Asean countries. Volunteers and community members helped distribute promotional tourism material such as brochures, magazines and DVDs.
More cultural and entertainment shows will be performed by renowned troupes today at Katara. The programme runs from 6pm to 10pm.
A view of the audience at the Asean festival at Katara yesterday. Right: Performers stage a group dance. A dancer performs at the festival. PICTURES
