Media Release
Doha, Feb 15: Yet again, it was that time of the year when community activities reach a crescendo and families gather together to enjoy the best of the cool weather. Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), an organisation at the forefront when it comes to presenting exciting and entertaining family events, did it again on February 3 by conducting the third Family Fiesta at Al-Jazeera Academy ground. The event was packed with competitions, entertainment, delicious food stalls, games, and live magic show.
Braving the chilled weather, families came together to enjoy the different activities the Fiesta presented to them.
Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), an affiliate organisation of Indian Cultural Centre, under the aegis of the Embassy of India, Doha Qatar, has been keeping up to its commitment by giving the community a platform to express their talents, hone their skills, yet enjoy in the process, as a family. No member of a family is left behind in the competitions. The Fiesta has an array of competition targeting every one, with the popular cooking competition for women, conducted in three categories, namely the main course, desserts and yummy healthy category, the drawing competition conducted for children from grade 1-8, henna for girls aged 13 an above and women, the live salad making competition exclusively for father and child and the newly introduced team activity for children to create an art piece out of waste. The event had a huge response from the community with lots of enthusiasm to present something different and learn from the event.
The drawing competition was given a shiny element this year with the introduction of glitter sand for all the children to work with. The children, while presenting their love for home country India on canvas, added sparkles to their masterpieces with the help of glitter sand. The henna competition saw some highly intricate designs transferred from the tips of henna cones by participants onto flat surfaces, in a theme that was kept open for all participants. It was a dream for participants to express their artistic skills without being bound by fixed themes. The 'dad and me' live salad making competition, another fun-filled competition exclusively for father and child, received the same amount of energy and enthusiasm as the first time it was introduced in 2016. Watching dads carve through fruits and vegetables to create the various elements for a salad, was a joy to watch especially when done for the love of the child.
KMCA always brings a new element to its events and this time was no different. A new competition was introduced for children aged 8-17, to participate as a team ‘Friend and I-Art from Waste’, competition with friends, siblings or relatives. The team work the children exhibited while competing was a lesson in teambuilding for everyone. The competition required children to bring waste materials from home and create a piece of usable artwork on the spot. The different kinds of art pieces created proved the efforts and practice of the participating teams.
The young and dynamic magician Mohammed Idris fearlessly walked amidst the crowd, presenting his tricks, entertaining children, and kept the audiences enthralled, while Social Forum demonstrated the traditional martial arts, holding the audience in complete awe.
Chef Querino Mendonca from QAFCO-Clubs was invited to judge the cooking competitions along with chef Arkan from Mercure Grand Doha. KMCA cooking competition winner for the past 3 years, Arshia Zaffar was honoured with the role of judging the cooking competition this year along with chef Querino and chef Arkan. The judging was an intense activity with the judges pondering over each dish to give their opinion on the strengths of the dish as well as areas it could improve on. The numbers when tallied revealed the winners.
The chilly evening saw the best of the home-cooked dishes put up by Hidayah Foundation in its Home Food Chefs, Maymar Friends, and SKMW food stalls. Foods were offered at nominal prices, which left the visitors asking for more and more on servings of traditional biryani, haleem, chicken, delicious paya, exotic coconut water drinks and an array of teas, delicious cup cakes and more, the best combination for the cold weather. Visitors got a unique opportunity to shop for clothes, plants and books from the exclusive stalls set up by Florenza Nursery, and Abu Kharbal book store.
The prize distribution ceremony commenced with KMCA president Abdullah Monu welcoming the distinguished guests, leaders of other community organisation, gathering and the participants. The chief guest Nasreen Shabbir, guest of honour Dr Nayana Waagh addressed the audience, after which, community organisation leaders and representatives were invited to give away the prizes, trophies and gifts to the winners.
The event was compered by Aysha Monu. It was a fun, wholesome and rewarding evening for one and all, and a new feather in the cap of KMCA's new leader, Abdullah Monu.
Winners of various competitions
Main Course
1. Nabeela Masood
2. Mubeena Hashim
3. Asma Sulthana
Desserts
1. Mubeena Hashim
2. Sanila Sharfuddin
3. Nazrath
Yummy Healthy
1. Sanila Sharfuddin
2. Amera Rafique
3. Fouzia Abdul Manaf
Dad and me - Live cooking
1. Muneer Sheikh and Rania
2. Imran and Hamdan
3. Abdulazeez and Izzah Zafreen
Henna competition
1. Asila Aftab
2. Shahin Abdul Khader
3. Muskan Shaikh
Fun with Glitter Drawing competition - Seniors
1. Soha Samiullah Shaikh
2. Jewel Pinto
3. Fathia Al Daniyah
Fun with Glitter Drawing competition - Juniors
1. Syed Farzana Akter
2. Sayeed Nabila Tahreen
3. Shehzad Samiullah Shaikh
Friend and I – Art with Waste
1. Sheikh Hamdan and Saraf Rafeeq
2. Aisha Ibraiz Khan and Zuha
3. Hanan Ahmed Assadi and Roohi Fatima