(MENAFN- The Peninsula) joelyn baluyut |
The Peninsula
Doha: The Ramadan Book Fair not only encourages the habit of reading but also specifically promotes reading in print.
People in this digital age are always glued to their screens, especially children, and during the COVID-19 epidemic, online learning even grew, leading to additional screen time. The fair's second edition introduces the audience to the nation's culture and customs while offering the conventional print reading.
The Peninsula spoke with a few book shoppers on the first day of the fair, and they all voiced their appreciation for the occasion and how it may inspire everyone to paper reading.
Reading, according to Naeema, a Qatari citizen, is a kind of relaxation for her.“I enjoy various genres and do not limit myself to just one. Reading a tangible book allows you to disconnect from the screen. And because I read so much, I've inspired my kid to read as well. She sometimes wants me to read her a story from a book, and other times she reads on her own.”
“Having a physical book to read is incomparable; you will love the smell of the book and feel the paper as you turn the pages. The book fair is an avenue to encourage people to read, we shouldn't simply watch videos but also read books,” she added.
Egyptian expatriate, Jassim who was with his two sons, said he's bringing his whole family to the fair for them to experience the Qatari culture and help them to read more.“Nowadays, it's hard to convince kids to read especially if you hand them the digital tablets; but now I'm trying to expose them to events like this so they will know the importance of reading. They might not understand the true benefits of reading at a young age, but as they grow old, they will.”
He also commended the cultural and artistic activities being held all throughout the festival which also entice children to engage, especially the storytelling session, the puppet show, and art workshops.
Qatar has been promoting reading culture through several government institutions, including Qatar Reads, which has a dedicated booth at the fair.
It is a programme that aims to generate a national effort to promote the significance of reading and to pique the interest of all residents, particularly children and teenagers, in reading.
The second Ramadan Book Fair will run until April 5, from 7pm to 12am and is located at Darb Al Saai. This year 79 publishing houses are participating – 31 are local and 48 are international publishers.