It is the middle of Ramadhan and the young ones in Oman were ready for Qaranqasho with a mood of celebration on Wednesday. As a mark of celebration, children visited houses to collect goodies in their bags. Gift shops in the Sultanate of Oman had a variety of bags for the Qaranqasho collection.
The family had also been preparing for this day and each house was ready with chocolates, nuts, popcorn, coins and notes. It was truly a children’s day and the kids made sure they spread happiness.
Wafa al Zadjali, from Muscat, remembers it to be a simple affair. "We would just pick up bags and we used to go to houses to collect candy. The gatherings were fun as everyone would be outside their homes. We used to live in Mabela so the crowd used to be big. They would give us chocolates and candies and some houses also would make sure to give us money as well.”
For Sanat Kaf, it was a different experience, as he is from Salalah, and according to him, Qaranqasho is popular in Muscat, Al Batinah and Al Sharqiyah. It is popular there but in Salalah, we did not have the practice when we were young. However, now children in Salalah also celebrate the Qaranqasho.
Ameera al Badi, a human resources manager, said, "Just get our bags and be ready to walk around the houses - that was the agenda. We would be singing the Qaranqasho song which is like a call to everyone in the houses to open doors for us and give us whatever they have, chocolate sweets or any small stuff,” she said.
“A small chocolate could give us happiness not because of the chocolate’s value, but because of the way we were received by the families in the houses so it was a lovely moment for us, so much so that we even cherish today,” she reflected.
The day is also equally important for families, as they prepare to receive the children from the neighbourhood. A link that stays connected as memories were being made.
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