Sharjah celebrates heritage week

Sharjah: The Sharjah corniche road basked in a crimson glow of the setting sun, wooden dhows anchored bumped against each other with each incoming waves. It is celebration week.

Seagulls flew in patterns, the streets looked busy as always, and the air was filled with bhukoor (Arabic incense) and the aroma of freshly fried luqeimat (crispy dumplings dipped in honey or date syrup) that wafted from the adjacent heritage site in Shuweihan.

Amid the din of the usual evening traffic, the sound of faint rhythmic beats of the drums and a rustic chorus could be heard.

As the evening wore on, older decorative lights in green, yellow, blue and red draped the heritage area where people from all walks of life had gathered to witness the week-long celebration.

Stalls selling colourful jalabiya (traditional long dress worn by women), Kandoora (traditional long dress worn by men), Khaizarana (stick with a carved holder), bhukoor, honey, Jifeer (baskets made of the date palm leaves) and pottery lined up the area.

Young and old flocked to the area where luqeimat and rigaag (bread) were being prepared by kohl-eyed women with golden and black burqa' covering their faces. Freshly fired luqeimat topped generously with honey and date syrup seemed to be an instant hit among children and tourists who were seen going back for more. Children played musical chairs on a large stage in the middle of the area while their parents applauded.

Apart from the traditional wooden jigsaw and the swings that captured the attention of the little ones, a robust looking white cow seemed to be the star attraction. Young boys in kandoora holding on tightly to their father's hand stood staring at the bovine which looked equally uncomfortable with all the attention.

An announcement in Arabic called some of the fathers to gather their little ones at an area. It was time for the traditional dance performance 'Liwa'. Emirati men and women faced each other in rows. The men wore kandoora with white cloth tied like a turban on their head while the women were in colourful jalabiyas, chunky gold jewelry, burqa, heavily kohled eyes with henna coloured hands and feet.

Camcorders, mobile phones and still cameras flashed as three young Emirati men stood with drums between the two rows. The performance began with a solo slow tempo, five minutes later the drummers joined in, followed by the dancers and the singers, with the music gradually picking up pace to reach a spectacular swirl of activity.

Standing at the distance, happily watching the activities was Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, director of the heritage site. "Our objective for organising a heritage week is to showcase our age old tradition and cultures not only for the outside world but also for the benefit of our young ones." He said he was happy to see young Emiratis wearing traditional attire.