Katara releases ‘solar calender’

Katara, the Cultural Village Foundation, yesterday launched its latest publication, ‘Solar Calendar of the Constellations in the State of Qatar’, compiled by Qatari Engineer Essa S R al-Kuwari.
The solar calendar will enable researchers to study history based on a scientific approach through observing celestial phenomena, Katara said in a press statement.
Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti said: “Undoubtedly, the solar calendar’s importance springs from man’s need to have a mechanism of timekeeping, calculate date and time, reckon past or future time, organise public and private human affairs and keep track of various religious occasions.
“The solar calendar is vital for individuals, countries and corporations and none of these can function outside its influence or guidance.”
He stressed that Katara was keen to take the initiative and publish this calendar as it includes “valuable information and data on zodiacal constellations and the impact on the local environment and ecological system, as well as national traditions and identity”.
The publication of the calendar “also reflects Katara’s belief in the importance this new publication holds for the national library as well as local researchers who are publishing works that cover different fields of human knowledge, aiming to enrich the Arabic library and modern cultural achievements,” Dr al-Sulaiti added.
Al-Kuwari highlighted the importance of the publication and noted that the solar calendar is available in English and Arabic.