By Sidi Mohamed

DOHA: People visiting Darb El-Saai the venue of official National Day celebrations can have a glimpse of the training provided to the Qatari youth as part of mandatory national service.

The pavilion of the National Service Centre at Darb El-Saai is attracting huge crowds as school students showcase every day some salient features of the training given as part of the national service.

This is the first time the National Service Centre which provides the mandatory military training to the Qatari youth in camps held periodically is being represented at Darb El-Saai.

The pavilion chooses some 40 to 50 students from two Independent schools who are physically fit and they showcase the mandatory National Service training for the visitors.

According to the head of the National Service Centre Brigadier Mohamed Musfir Al Ayyadi the first three students from the group of 40 to 50 who are the best performers are given awards on a daily basis.

The National Day celebrations at Darb El-Saai that began on December 8 will last until December 20 two days after the National Day on December 18.

Another attraction is Souq Waqif’s open pavilion. A coordinator told this newspaper that what is displayed at Souq Waqif is local and GCC culture and traditions. Mohamed Mohanna Al Marri said: “Our open pavilion is a huge attraction here”.

Also represented at Darb El-Saai is Qatar Tourism Authority in a big way. They are showcasing some traditional games. Two of them are ‘keram’ and ’attella’. These games are for people from different age groups.

Visitors to Darb El-Saai are quite excited. One visitor told this newspaper that the event is a good opportunity to familiarise oneself about Qatar’s culture and traditions.

“There is no other place where one can go and learn so much about the local culture and heritage” said Ali Al Saigh. A Qatari visitor said that this is opportunity for the present generation to know some of their folklores and traditions that people have forgotten about in this modern age.

“When we visit such places as Darb El-Saai we are reminded of our past rich heritage” said the Qatari Ali Al Karbi. He said the celebrations at Darb El-Saai attract not only Qatari youth but people of all ages and backgrounds.

Another attractive feature at this year’s celebrations at Darb El-Saai is the pavilion of the Qatar Red Crescent and Sheikh Eid Charity where a volunteer is giving tips to the visitors on how to save oneself when an earthquake hits a place.

Mohamed Saad Al Jubara the volunteer said one should place one’s right hand on his head and left on his knees and slip under a table when quake strikes.

The person then should count from one to 60 and then look for a safer place to move. A quake usually lasts for one to two minutes so counting from one to 60 means the person hiding under a table is safe.

But he should immediately look for a more safe place and move immediately said Al Jubara as he explained this to a number of curious visitors.

And while moving from a place hit by a quake one should make sure that one is not moving in crowds. People should move one by one.

The Peninsula