Amid the pandemic and colourless festivities, children celebrated Qaranqasho. This annual festival marks the mid of the holy month of Ramadhan observed in the Arab world.
Clad in beautiful attires, boys and girls across the wilayats rejoiced with their friends and shared sweets and received gifts. At the same time, elders kept vigil on Covid-19 protocols.
Qaranqasho is a colourful social tradition celebrated when the holy month is halfway through and is considered encouragement and motivation for children to try their hands on fasting.
“Children in our wilayat celebrated Qaranqasho with dance and music and food and gifts while we were watchful of Covid-19 preventive measures,” said Bushra al Araimi, a media marketing personnel.
“Qaranqasho is a feeling that we grew up with, and we wanted our children to enjoy the same. Hence, we prepared food, bought festive coloured papers and festoons and balloons,” she added.
Children look forward to Qaranqasho night. On that day, Ramadhan 14, they go out after iftar and Maghrib prayer in organised groups chanting popular songs related to this beautiful tradition.
While Qaranqasho is the most common name for the event among the Sultanate’s governorates, it is also called ‘Garge’an’ among some other GCC countries that follow this Ramadhan tradition. Qaranqasho is an occasion eagerly awaited by children as well as by adults who make necessary preparations. It is a festival for children. They prepare for it several days before the event by getting themselves ready with new clothes.
They visit from house to house, where adults wait to receive them with sweets, money, and nuts and contribute to bringing smiles on children’s faces. Children are delighted to offer their parents the gifts they have received in a beautiful Ramadhan ceremony, and its simply bringing joy to the whole family.
Qaranqasho is, as said earlier, a feeling and nostalgia for elders. Various social institutions, associations, and commercial centres participate in the revival of Qaranqasho by hosting it and contributing to making children and participants happy by offering return gifts and sweets. However, for the past two years, this celebration has been limited to small gatherings of children. Corporates keep away from the festivities because of the Covid-19 precautions.
“Qaranqasho is considered to be an enhancement of societal communication. Besides enhancing the neighbourhood relations, it teaches children manners and values in life as they go out in groups and socialise with their friends. It also instils the values of sharing and caring. Younger members are cared for by elder children and help them learn the basic lessons of teamwork,” Talib al Balushi, a resident of Amerat, said.
— Pictures by Bushra al Ameri
KABEER YOUSUF
@kabeeryousef
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