Doha • The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ) in association with the Academic Bridge Programme and Carnegie Mellon hosted its second Garangao Evening, yesterday. The event was opened to public.

The event was organised by the VCUQ Student Activities Office and the Student Government Association (SGA). Students created a traditional environment reflective of the Garangao atmosphere. The event served as a showcase for people unfamiliar with the Garangao tradition.

“We want to bring back the traditions that people have forgotten about, we want to take people back on a trip to the past, to a time when kids would gather and go around the houses in the neighbourhood to collect nuts and sweets while singing Garangao songs.” said Hissa Al Garni Students Activities Coordinator.

“This year’s Garangao event was even more amazing than last year. The costumes were really amazing and everyone the opportunity to dress in traditional Qatari outfits and their photographs were taken” added SGA President Daleen Al Khatib.

Some of the traditional games included those familiar to a western audience such as Tug-O-War and Sack Racing. Others such as Al Sagla, a shell and pebble game where the player tosses the pebble upwards and tries to take a shell and catch the pebble at the same time. In Taq-Taq-Taqiya children sit in a circle while one runs around outside the circle tagging the others.

Along with providing traditional food VCUQ students also provided an arts and crafts table, a Henna Corner where kids had the chance to get henna artwork on their hands. In the Photo Corner children, dressd up in traditional Qatari clothing, were photographed with Polaroid camera with a traditional backdrop.

The main sponsor for the event was Ebrahim Al Neama Holdings.

Activities started from 8pm and lasted till 11.30pm at the VCUQ Atrium.