KABEER YOUSUF -
muscat, jan 11 -
The 21st edition of the Muscat Festival, which got under way on Thursday, is a mini village of classy activities from across the world.
Be it the stilt walkers from Spain, the fire jugglers from Russia, the dancers from India, the rides from Pakistan or the daredevil bikers from Vietnam, Muscat Festival hues will reflect on one and all making it a true family convergence
by and large.
What makes the festival all the more different is that everyone can find something or the other that appeals their senses, tastes and preferences or even their taste buds.
While the Heritage Village at both venues appeals your love for pure artifacts, merchandise from across the world all under one roof will make you shop till you drop, but you will be excused if you have given in to the temptations at the large food corners that sell a wide range of foods from various continents.
A large range of adrenaline-pumping rides from several countries arranged in a vast area of the ground, is something a child will like to be in for some time.
Daily fireworks which begin at 8 pm have always been the creme de la crème of the fest throughout the month.
Furthermore, it’s not just about the fun and entertainment alone. A magnanimous thought for the people who are in need of blood is not spared. A daily campaign for blood donation is an ongoing activity at the venues and the “Al Amerat Ata’a” campaign continues its efforts to spread awareness on the importance of donating blood and spreading a culture of donation, in addition to collecting some blood units for various hospitals of Oman.
INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORES
Compressed into a global village, the festival venues showcase a slice of each country in any of its features. Visitors of the Naseem Park will have a chance to watch a band of Indian philharmonics, presented by 12 members. The band offers a variety of Indian heritage dances that express the sense of joy using some instruments reflecting the traditions of folk dances.
ROP AWARENESS
The Directorate-General for Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances at the Royal Oman Police is participating in this year’s Muscat Festival at both venues with a mobile awareness-raising exhibition on drug abuse and prevention methods.
PARTICIPATION OF media The Public Authority for Radio and Television offers a variety of media coverage for Muscat Festival 2018 on radio and TV channels live from the festival venues. Live interviews with visitors and officials, families and participants along with live updates and descriptive presentation make these programmes dearer to the listeners.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MOHAMMED
Year after year, the announcement and live updates by a veteran citizen, Mohammed, has been a part and parcel of the festivities without which the participants feel the fair is not complete. With a microphone in his hand, he goes round and round updating the visitors about the various festivities happening around. A farmer by profession, Mohammed says he has been participating in Muscat Festival with his old microphone
since the very first edition of the same.
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