(MENAFN- The Peninsula) laila el attar |
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Showcasing more than 220 firms, Katara – the Cultural Village's annual Summer Trade Fair is back with diverse items from across the globe including Yemen, Lebanon, India, Palestine and the Sultanate of Oman.
Running through June 13, the fair takes place under a large tent in the Southern area of Katara. It's an annual hotspot for the retail of a range of items from traditional clothes, Oudh and dazzling jewellery, to vibrant spices, international foods and unique handicrafts.
To make this possible, many vendors travelled hours from their homelands to market their products at the fair.
Sihame, 77, says she travelled all the way from her rural village north of Lebanon to deliver her farm-grown organic products to the people of Qatar. Being a nutritionist, her store prioritises physical health and wellbeing through additive-free products. She says her products are especially of benefit to those suffering from diabetes and high cholesterol and are looking for a natural remedy.
“The taste of our products is completely different from grocery stores, it's more natural and organic,” she says.
Being a nutritionist is not Sihame's only motivation for organic eating – she says she has been farming and cultivating her ancestors' farms for the past 40 to 50 years. This responsibility was passed down from her grandparents, and she hopes to do
the same to the generations following her.
“Farming is special to us, it's our heritage, our grandparents' heritage,” says Sihame.
Flying four hours from India to Qatar, a jewellery shop owner has arrived at the fair to sell her eye-catching jewellery, which she describes as 'one of one'.
The ornaments are originally manufactured and sold in India, with only one piece made from each ornament. She says this emphasises the uniqueness of the jewellery and ensures two people will never be seen wearing the same jewels.
“No one at the party will have the same necklace as you,” she says.
Yemeni food rich in health benefits stood out at the fair. Variations of honey including white honey and pistachio honey and one of the oldest herbal plants, Yemeni male garlic, are distinguished for their outstanding medicinal benefits.
“Yemen is the land of the good,” says the shopkeeper, referring to the abundance of health benefits derived from Yemeni food and crops.
The fair will continue to welcome visitors to shop local, international and Arabs products for the next two weeks, from 10am to 10pm.