Students of Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon Organize "Qatari Cultural Night"

Doha, March 19 (QNA) - Students of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) recently held Education City's first Qatari Cultural Night. The event featured an outdoor perimeter of traditional divans surrounding an expanse of Persian rugs, a photo booth at which guests could snap pictures in traditional clothing and heritage items, including swords and headdresses, and a semi-private area in which women could have their henna done while dining on traditional Qatari foods. The idea for the event originated with Hessa Al Misnad, an SFS-Q freshman, and Haya Al Thani, an SFS-Q junior, who thought that with the growth of various holidays and celebrations here, it was important to focus on Qatari culture. Their first effort to add this dimension to the university s calendar was through National Day, held this past December 18th. "We filled SFS-Q with Qatari flags. It was a lot of fun, and a long time coming." This latest effort cements the infusion of Qatari celebrations into SFS-Q's culture and marks the launch of the new SFS-Q Qatari Student Society under the leadership of Hessa Al Misnad and Haya Al Thani. Fortuitously scheduled to coincide with Carnegie Mellon's event, the two universities merged their separate invitations into an invitation for the students, faculty and staff of both universities. "We want Education City to join in with our local culture. Qataris are very inviting." The photo booth, monitored by expert photographers, allowed engaged attendees to create instant mementos of their experiences while wearing traditional Qatari garb, such as the green dress called a 'thobe nashil', embroidered with gold filigree and reserved for weddings, or the 'ghutra' for men, historically used for protection from the intense desert sun and affixed to the head with a black leather 'egal', originally used as leash to prevent camels from running away. For women, the iconic gold face mask, called the 'batoola,' usually worn after marriage, provided an alternate view, while a mesh gold headdress added sparkle to bare heads and hijabs alike, a centerpiece of Qatari bridal jewelry. Incense-laced logs burned brightly in open-air hearths strewn throughout the area, warming and delighting the senses of guests who enjoyed a performance of the traditional sword dance called the 'arda', and a demonstration of the extraction of a pearl from its shell. "Pearling is what Qatar was known for," said Hessa. "It's how our economy was sustained. Qatari men would be away from home for six months at a time deep-sea diving for pearls. It s important that people know how a living was made in this coastal area." 'Karak,' a strong brew combining coffee and tea and taking many hours to prepare, was served alongside harees , a staple of Qatari cuisine, white and smooth in texture. A table-sized bed of rice displayed a full sheep, slow-cooked to perfection. "We call it 'thabiha,'" explained Hessa. "It's a marker of respect to serve guests the entire animal. Historically, it would have been a great expense, and to serve it demonstrates great care for those eating." (QNA)