QARANQASHO
BRINGS CHEER TO CHILDREN IN OMAN DURING RAMADAN
Qaranqasho is an integral day in the Holy Month of Ramadan and is celebrated across all of Oman. On this special day, it is considered tradition for family members and other adults to give children small gifts, in the form of sweets, chocolates, cakes, juice, and a little money as well. These give them plenty of joy that stays with them for a long time.
Qaranqasho, one of the key inherited Omani tradition and ritual that has passed from one generation to the other, is held in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan which the children eagerly await for as it plays an important role in encouraging children for fasting and also to maintain social solidarity in the society.
The Qaranqasho is celebrated in a number of wilayats in the Sultanate of Oman and is common in the majority of the wilayats and is named “Al Quraqa’an” in other wilayats and in some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.
This annual tradition is generally held on 14th Ramadan, when the children joyfully come out of their homes wearing their traditional Omani costume to visit the houses in their neighbourhood while singing folk songs which are derived from deep-rooted Omani heritage. These children are warmly welcomed by owners of houses and offered mouth-watering sweets and gifts.
The celebration is aimed to revitalise the old Omani traditions and also to teach children and make them aware of the significance of the Omani heritage and its preservation by successive generations.
Qaranqasho gifts were once restricted to only dates, while currently children receive other gifts including sweets, dry fruits and toys.