All photos by Navin Sam
Celebrations for National Day officially commenced in Qatar yesterday with the raising of the nation’s flag at the Darb Al Saai grounds in Al Sadd.
Though the holiday isn’t until Dec. 18, Qatar has begun pre-festivities with performances, games, food, farm animals, shooting practice for beginners and other features at Darb Al Saai.
For the next 10 days, there will also be two-minute firework shows on in the evenings there, and five-minute shows on the Corniche each night from 7:30 to 7:35pm.
According to photographer Navin Sam, who visited the Al Sadd grounds last night:
“The place is worth a visit with various stalls selling traditional food, souvenirs and other items. There were camels, horses, kids with falcons and there is even a pen with animals from the Qatari desert (deer, oryx, ostrich). It’s pretty impressive and showcases the culture of Qatar pretty well.”
He added that there is plenty of parking for everyone.
According to the official QND website, Darb Al Saai is open from 8am to noon, and from 4pm to 10pm through Dec. 20.
The site also lists several other activities that will take place before QND. Stay tuned for our official guide later this week.
Thoughts?
These are all good fun things, but you forgot the other celebrations. Driving around like lunatics, waving swords in the street and dumping trash everywhere.
I fully support the right of locals to celebrate their national day but it’s not fun to leave your house on the 18th. I’m leaving the country this year.
Don’t forget having your kids hang out the sunroof of your LC whilst driving like the said lunatic. Child abuse.
There was no fireworks yesterday at corniche . We were waiting there from 7 pm to 8 pm with family . If they are cancelling an event they should inform the public through media . It is too bad and never expected from Qatar National Day organizing committee .