The wait is over. It is that time of the year. It is time for Pakistani mangoes, fresh from the orchards in Punjab and Sindh provinces, famous for their unique varieties. Keeping up with its tradition, Sohni Dharti, a socio-cultural organisation of Pakistanis working in RasGas and Qatargas in Al Khor, is once again organising its “Pakistan Mango Mela and Food Festival” at BS Sports Hall Al Khor on July 21 (tomorrow).
The event is organised by the executive committee of Sohni Dharti, led by chairman Rana Anwar Ali, and will showcase great varieties of mangoes from Pakistan and will also feature stalls of traditional Pakistani food.
Sohni Dharti promises this year’s event to be even bigger and better than its previous editions. Different varieties of Pakistani mangoes, including Chaunsa, Anwar Retol and Dusehri, Sindhri will be available at the event.
Many families from Al Khor are also setting up food stalls featuring homemade Pakistani food items. Two famous Pakistani restaurants, Zauq and Shezan, will also set up stalls at the event.
“The objective of the festival is to introduce Pakistan’s culture and its traditions of hospitality to people from other countries and cultures, besides giving our own community the best taste of mangos away from home,” Rana tells Community.
The homemade food stalls are a new addition this year, and what sets it apart from previous years, according to the organisers. Besides, a large variety of fresh seasonal Pakistani vegetables and fruits will be available. Listing some of the items, Rana says there would be other fruits from Pakistan as well, including plums, melons and vegetables from the Swat district and other northern areas of Pakistan.
All fruits and vegetables coming from Pakistan will be available to visitors on discounted prices.
Rana says the show has been attracting a huge audience since its start in 2011. Last year, more than 3,000 people attended the festival and this time they have also made arrangements for this many people.
“Even though it is vacation season these days, we are expecting that we will have a big audience and we have made all our arrangements accordingly,” says Rana.
Besides food, the festival will also feature Pakistani dress stalls, mehndi/henna beauticians from Pakistan, and traditional jewellery stalls.
In the past, Sohni Dharti has been giving away ‘Best-selling Award’ and ‘Best Decor Award’ to food stall holders. The event provides an opportunity to families to meet and spend quality time together.
Beside Pakistanis, different nationalities living in the Al Khor Community also participate in the event and enjoy authentic Pakistani cuisine. “The purpose of the event is to bring to light the rich culture and cuisine of Pakistan,” says Rana. He says officials from Pakistan embassy and other guests will be participating in the festival.
Earlier this year, Sohni Dharti organised a grand bazaar featuring mandarin festival and fresh Pakistani fruits and vegetables directly imported from Pakistan held at New Football Field Al Khor Community.
The festival, attended by a large number of Pakistani expatriates. featured one of the best mandarin varieties (kinnow) from Pakistan. Kinnow, widely grown in the Punjab province, is exported to many countries of the world.
The main objectives of the Sohni Dharti are to promote cultural, social and sports activities for Pakistanis residents of Al Khor Community, develop the talents of Pakistani children in education, culture and sports, contribute in welfare and development of the community, especially to promote the preservation of environment of community and surroundings and integrate Pakistani community with other nationalities of Al Khor Community.
Membership of Sohni Dharti is open to the people of Pakistani origin residing in Al Khor, and to Qatargas and Rasgas employees living in Doha as well.
Pakistan’s ambassador Shahzad Ahmed at a previous mango festival by Sohni Dharti. The mango festival is much-awaited by the Pakistani community living here.
