Oman’s biggest cultural and shopping extravaganza, the Muscat Festival 2013, got off to a colorful start on Jan. 30. The festival attracts local and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourists and is truly an embodiment of regional unity, fun, excitement and adventure.
When the festival teed off in 1998, not many thought it would blossom into such a major attraction. It will end on Feb. 28.
Although the shopping on offer is not as comprehensive as the neighboring Dubai festival, the international markets in the main venue, Naseem Garden, offer a plethora of merchandise at reasonable prices. It houses 440 shops from 30 countries and is always teeming with shoppers.
Besides the international markets, Naseem Garden, a sprawling garden about 70 km from the capital Muscat, is a beehive of activity with comedy shows, magic shows, art, games, cartoon characters, theater, music, a circus, acrobatic performances, Omani song concerts, fireworks and traditional arts.
The park includes an open theater where Arab and foreign artists perform shows. On one Thursday evening, the park was crowded with Indian troupes performing song and dance shows. Every Thursday an Omani concert regales audiences.
Another venue of the festival is Amerat area, which is very close to Muscat. Here huge crowds are drawn to the Omani heritage village with its laser lights and fireworks displays; International Festival for Arts, Heritage and Creativity; International Carnival Show; and circus.
A municipality official told Arab News that almost 1.5 million visitors made it to the Muscat festival last year. And given the recognition awarded to Muscat as the Arab tourism capital and the second-best city by Lonely Planet, he anticipates a 15 to 20 percent increase in the number of visitors to the different venues this year.
Amerat’s cynosure is the Heritage Village which offers a peek into the cultural mores of its people and heritage. Connoisseurs of culture can get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the Arabian Bedouins through folklore performances, exhibitions and traditional shows. Says the municipality official: "At the heart of policies surrounding cultural heritage by the government of Oman is a desire to preserve the past."
The Muscat Festival, like its past editions, showcases several areas of Omani cultural heritage. From making a boat, kahwa preparation and weaving crafts, you will get a feel of Omani traditional life here. For example, the Abu Ahmad folklore exhibition at the heritage village showcases traditional armory, old jewelry, mandoos (a wooden chest common in Oman), plows, pottery, Islamic armor and a host of other traditional tools that were used hundreds of years ago. Some of the traditional skills such as basket making, fish net stitching, rope making, cupping therapy, bone setting, traditional games and folk arts are the focus of this fascinating village.
Visitors can also see Omani women dressed in traditional costumes selling perfumes, spices, incense, food and a range of other items. The European Carnival presented by the United Kingdom and Hat Juggling presented by China are not to be missed here.
Music and entertainment shows are available at both the venues, with some of the best Middle East music, art and cultural talent on display. This is sure to pamper the senses of visitors this year and make their festival experience most memorable.
The third venue, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, is hosting the food festival and International Festival of Folklore. Omani halwa, known for its distinct taste, is cooked at all venues.
The Tour of Oman cycling race, with six stages over 938.5 kilometers, and the mountain bike race in Al-Hajar mountains, are also part of the festival. For more information visit
www.muscat-festival.com.
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