versiering
De decoraties die de laatste jaren in zwang zijn geraakt bij de winkelcentra zijn op dit moment onderhevig aan discussie. heeft wel met de heilige maand te maken of is het vooral commercieel is zo'n typisch twistpunt. ook de geest van de islam zou niet duidelijk uitgebeeld worden.
terwijl in nederland Feyenoord trainer Verbeek zich beklaagd over de ramadanbeleving van enkele van zijn spelers kwam er in een enquete naar voren dat de meeste islamieten buiten hun eigen land zich strenger aan de vasten houden dan thuis. ook voelen ze zich meer verbonden met hun thuisland. sommige scholen in Nederland hebben hun herfstvakantie verschoven zodat ze samenvalt met het suikerfeest. dit jaar een makkie maar de komende jaren lastig want het schuift steeds tien dagen naar voren dus over twee drie jaar zullen bepaalde regio's hun zomervakantie moetn verlengen.
ramadan is vooral bezinning, extra bidden en tijd voor (zelf)refelctie. het is overdag erg rustig op straat en ook minder getoeter en gedoe.
lekker rustig en aan het eind feest. de decoraties wijzen daar nu al op. maar ja dat is ook makkelijker uit te beelden dan de geest van ramadan, denk ik zo.
THE manager of Doha’s biggest shopping centre has defended the mall’s Ramadan decorations following criticism that they missed the Islamic spirit of the occasion.
Majd Machfej, of the City Center, explained that with such a vast space to fill every effort had been made to capture the essence of the celebration, but pleas to the local community to give a helping hand had fallen on deaf ears.
However, he gave assurances that the decorations, now in their second year, would be even better in 2009 – and more culturally relevant.
Machfej said: “We have an events calendar and every local company in Qatar or individuals who believe they can be helpful to our events are welcome to take part in the brainstorming or the carrying out of ideas. So far we have not received any positive reaction.”
The manager also expressed his astonishment at the lack of response from Qatar’s universities and educational institutions when they were invited to take part in a major painting exhibition.
“I was stunned to see art students neglecting a chance to showcase their art works in a mall that gets 40,000 visitors a day and 70,000 during the weekend,” he said.
Qatar’s Ramadan decorations, which appear to have been taken up only by shopping malls in recent years, have been perceived as un-Islamic by many locals and Arab Muslim residents in the country.
And one Qatari designer told Gulf Times that the problem was not merely a decorative one, but also indicative of a cultural wave of ignorance sweeping the country in the face of a “Western invasion”.
Thekrayat Abdullah al-Baker added that only the “cultural rehabilitation” of Qataris could halt the slide.
She said: “We have lost our identity throughout this invasion; we have a great Arabian architectural legacy so why do we refer to Western styles all the way at our own style’s expense?
“There was a centre for Gulf States Folklore headquartered in Qatar, but they closed it. Nobody knows why.”
For Muslims, Ramadan decorations in public places are expected to consist of symbolic Islamic ornaments such as oil lamps, crescent moon stands and miniature shrines built in the old arabesque architectural style.
However, in shopping malls such as City Center, the desire to honour the celebrations with suitable decorations has been thwarted by the lack of local materials.
Admitting that the current decorations might have missed the ‘spirit’ of the holy month, Machfej promised there would be more Islamic Ramadan symbols next year, such as crescents, stars and oil lamps.
He said: “We started the idea of our Ramadan decoration last year and we will most likely finish the concept next Ramadan.”
Despite criticism of the Center’s decorations, the manager pointed out that activities held within the mall did capture the spirit of the occasion with bands performing oriental traditional music, puppet shows, and a henna lady - attractions all commonly associated with Ramadan celebrations
terwijl in nederland Feyenoord trainer Verbeek zich beklaagd over de ramadanbeleving van enkele van zijn spelers kwam er in een enquete naar voren dat de meeste islamieten buiten hun eigen land zich strenger aan de vasten houden dan thuis. ook voelen ze zich meer verbonden met hun thuisland. sommige scholen in Nederland hebben hun herfstvakantie verschoven zodat ze samenvalt met het suikerfeest. dit jaar een makkie maar de komende jaren lastig want het schuift steeds tien dagen naar voren dus over twee drie jaar zullen bepaalde regio's hun zomervakantie moetn verlengen.
ramadan is vooral bezinning, extra bidden en tijd voor (zelf)refelctie. het is overdag erg rustig op straat en ook minder getoeter en gedoe.
lekker rustig en aan het eind feest. de decoraties wijzen daar nu al op. maar ja dat is ook makkelijker uit te beelden dan de geest van ramadan, denk ik zo.
THE manager of Doha’s biggest shopping centre has defended the mall’s Ramadan decorations following criticism that they missed the Islamic spirit of the occasion.
Majd Machfej, of the City Center, explained that with such a vast space to fill every effort had been made to capture the essence of the celebration, but pleas to the local community to give a helping hand had fallen on deaf ears.
However, he gave assurances that the decorations, now in their second year, would be even better in 2009 – and more culturally relevant.
Machfej said: “We have an events calendar and every local company in Qatar or individuals who believe they can be helpful to our events are welcome to take part in the brainstorming or the carrying out of ideas. So far we have not received any positive reaction.”
The manager also expressed his astonishment at the lack of response from Qatar’s universities and educational institutions when they were invited to take part in a major painting exhibition.
“I was stunned to see art students neglecting a chance to showcase their art works in a mall that gets 40,000 visitors a day and 70,000 during the weekend,” he said.
Qatar’s Ramadan decorations, which appear to have been taken up only by shopping malls in recent years, have been perceived as un-Islamic by many locals and Arab Muslim residents in the country.
And one Qatari designer told Gulf Times that the problem was not merely a decorative one, but also indicative of a cultural wave of ignorance sweeping the country in the face of a “Western invasion”.
Thekrayat Abdullah al-Baker added that only the “cultural rehabilitation” of Qataris could halt the slide.
She said: “We have lost our identity throughout this invasion; we have a great Arabian architectural legacy so why do we refer to Western styles all the way at our own style’s expense?
“There was a centre for Gulf States Folklore headquartered in Qatar, but they closed it. Nobody knows why.”
For Muslims, Ramadan decorations in public places are expected to consist of symbolic Islamic ornaments such as oil lamps, crescent moon stands and miniature shrines built in the old arabesque architectural style.
However, in shopping malls such as City Center, the desire to honour the celebrations with suitable decorations has been thwarted by the lack of local materials.
Admitting that the current decorations might have missed the ‘spirit’ of the holy month, Machfej promised there would be more Islamic Ramadan symbols next year, such as crescents, stars and oil lamps.
He said: “We started the idea of our Ramadan decoration last year and we will most likely finish the concept next Ramadan.”
Despite criticism of the Center’s decorations, the manager pointed out that activities held within the mall did capture the spirit of the occasion with bands performing oriental traditional music, puppet shows, and a henna lady - attractions all commonly associated with Ramadan celebrations
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