Festivities at "Magical Night"

The Medical Student Executive Council (MSEC) and a team of volunteers brought a host of Ramadan traditions to WCMC-Q with a truly "Magical Night" November 1st.

They surrounded the guests, including faculty, staff, and their families, with a festive atmosphere. An open-air majlis (reception area,) was created beneath a canopy of lights; and brightly colored cushions were placed on carpets spread over the lawns outside the west end of the Medical College.

Several guests joined in the spirit of the occasion by donning traditional Qatari dress; among the students, many of the girls were stunning in brightly colored robes embroidered with reams of gold thread.

Hospitable and graceful, the students presented their guests with coffee perfumed with cardamom, sweets and dates, fragrance and incense. It was the kind of welcome that a Qatari family would offer their guests, said second-year pre-medical student Jowhara Al-Qahtani, who came up with the idea of organising the event.

There was also music, a feast of food, and a quiz organized by pre-med students.

For the boisterous children, games, drawing and henna decoration were provided to keep them busy. There were also little packets of nuts and sweets, typical of Garangao - an evening in mid-Ramadan when it is usual for children in the Gulf region to go from house to house in their neighborhood asking for such treats from their neighbors.