A RENDEZVOUS OF FAMILIES
More than anything else, the Muscat Festival has been proving to be a true family festival as the weekend saw women along with children and their men visiting the festival grounds in large numbers.
Being Friday, the two major venues — Al Amerat Park and Naseem Park — witnessed huge footfall comprising a diverse nationals as shopkeepers kept themselves busy displaying their merchandise and offering services to the ever-increasing crowds.
For Norman and Katheline, two British tourists, Muscat Festival is a fisttime experience which, in their opinion, is a memory of a lifetime.
“We came to Oman to visit its diverse landscape and experience life here, and we are glad that we got more than we wanted. It’s really refreshing to be at the festival grounds and we felt we were travelling with time experiencing the life of Omanis,” they said.
Indeed, it’s been a once-in-a-year experience for Omani nationals and expatriates living here. More so for those who by sheer chance got to know about the festival while spending their holidays in Oman. And they made it to the festival grounds with great enthusiasm.
“We weren’t planning to visit any place other than the beaches, mountains and the like. But it’s a bonus for us to have visited the place while in town,” Eisa al Naqbi and his family who were staying in Shangri-La hotel and resort said.
“It’s really nice to have visited the festival grounds when the weather is really awesome,” he said, and his kids too were really excited.
The organisers of the 24-day long festival of culture and tradition have made it a point to make the festival appealing to one and all. The train that passes through the crowd with kids jaw wide open and with nursery rhymes throughout the journey is an example of it.
“Although I live in Al Amerat, I wasn’t very particular about visiting the festival venue till last year. But this time I found it was really worth being a part of the festival,” Nabeel al Zedjali and his wife said .
Two sisters from Salalah, who are donned as brand ambassadors of Omani frankincense, are another attraction to youngsters who want to begin their own startup while studying in a college. Meet Ruwan and Ru’wa, the sister-duo who have several stories to share with the visitors at the international pavilion.
For Mohsin Hilal al Barwani, a member of Oman Disabled Association, nothing could deter him from visiting the festival ground on his wheelchair.
“I feel really excited about being here (at the festival) on my wheelchair. It’s a great opportunity to meet and network with people from different walks of life,” said Mohsin.