SHARJAH: The Kingdom of Bahrain was the first guest at the World Cultural Heritage Weeks which were recently floated at the Sharjah Centre for Heritage Activities in Bait Al Gharbi.

Organised by Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the week-long event has played host to Bahraini heritage and folkore. Features of the Bahraini heritage showcased include poetry readings, discussion panels, traditional children’s games, and traditional fashion shows, among others.

Speaking to The Gulf Today, Aisha Ghabesh, Chairman of the World Heritage Weeks in Sharjah, said:  “Bait Al Gharbi was restored as part of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah’s vision of restoring the ancient buildings in Sharjah.”

She indicated that according to archaeologists and specialists, Bait Al Gharbi was a very ancient palace, aged between 150 to 200 years, which belonged to Sheikh Sultan Bin Saqr Bin Khalid Al Qasimi.

Asked about the future plans for the World Heritage Weeks in Sharjah, she stated, “We will be hosting one country every month. For example, we will host Morocco in February, and hopefully we will continue hosting other countries from all over the world.”

Khalid Rashid, one of the folk dancers’ representatives, said, “I’m pleased to participate in the Sharjah Institute for Heritage events. It is my first time. We have performed numerous folk songs and dances from Bahrain. Fortunately, the reaction from the audience has been good.”

Haya Jodah , one of the participants from Bahraini, shared some old children’s game, whose popularity has since waned with the advent of modern technology.

She told The Gulf Today the various names of the aforementioned games. She narrated: “’Moddoud’ was a game where young girls would build houses using wooden boxes. They would also make dolls using chicken bones. We all know there were no plastic dolls at the time.”

“Dhaloulo” was the other popular game. “It was by played by young girls and boys during the Holy Month of Ramadan. This was because people would unwind at night, since they would be fasting during the day. The kids would go out to play upon appearance of moonlight,” she added.