QF’s Garangao activities this year featured a range of traditional games and cultural activities, including ‘gaiss’ and ‘dahroui’, specially designed for the whole family to enjoy. Visitors were also able to sample some of the region’s most popular dishes, including ‘harees’, ‘khanfaroosh’ and ‘luqaimat’.
QF’s popular National Reading Campaign hosted a series of interactive games for children, including scrabble and jigsaw puzzles, while the campaign’s innovative Reading Truck was on hand to provide favourite books and stories for children and families.
Young visitors also had the chance to meet Rashid and Noura, their favourite characters from ‘Siraj’, QF’s animated educational TV series that aims to instil a love of the Arabic language from an early age.
Khalifa E al-Kubaisi, head of the press office at QF, said: “Qatar Foundation’s annual Garangao activities provide a wonderful opportunity for community members of all ages and backgrounds to come together to honour a beloved regional tradition. Throughout the year, we provide a range of initiatives designed to foster social engagement and encourage people to learn more about Qatar’s culture and traditions, and our Garangao event is just one example.”
A number of QF centres took part in this year’s Garangao celebrations with activities, including a planetarium show organised by Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute; puzzle and wheel games by Qatar Biobank; and planting activities hosted by Qur’anic Botanic Garden. Additionally, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar gave visitors the opportunity to learn more about medicine through role-playing as doctors in the activity ‘Annie’.
Garangao is a popular children’s festival held annually across the Gulf region following the breaking of fast on the 14th night of Ramadan.