Sunday 26 / January / 2025
Muscat: A huge crowd of people had descended at the Qurum Park on Friday, one of the prime venues of the Muscat Nights.
People of all age groups, both Omanis and expatriates, had turned out in large numbers to witness the mesmerising shows in the evening. The parking lot inside the Qurum Park was bursting at the seams with no space left inside.
As the chilly wind blew across the evening, the warmth generated from a long walk outside the campus to the venue inside gave a soothing feeling.
With excitement palpable in the air, young Omani kids were seen leading their families as they wanted to reach the venue in quick time to watch the shows. A young toddler was pushing his younger sibling on a wheelchair with full force to get a glimpse of the dazzling spectacle.
Much before the start of the laser show, all the chairs were almost full in the stadium arena as people awaited with bated breath for the extravaganza.
With small kiosks spread over a large area, people were seen enjoying a variety of foods. Shops were seen selling many types of eatables, including pizza, burger, boiled corn, ice creams, coffee, tea and many other items.
The entire arena presented a festive look with young and adults enjoying food and having a nice time. Some people were seen searching for a space to sit and enjoy the provisions of their choice while others were taking a stroll and enjoying their dishes.
Apart from the laser show event and food stalls, another area which had the maximum crowd was a show where acrobats were performing to the sound of music. They did all types of tricks to a big round of applause. Their rhythmic stunts were simply breathtaking. Thereafter, young kids donned the stage, and the biggest entertainment came to the fore.
As per the game, around a dozen kids standing in a queue had to wear a round ring around their body and watch the Bollywood tunes being relayed carefully. And they had to ensure that the ring was out of their waist before the music stopped. Those who couldn’t, were eliminated from the contest. This continued until only one contestant was left in the game. This competition garnered a lot of enthusiasm and laughter from the gathering.
But the icing on the cake was a laser show which lit up the Muscat sky. The show started with an Omani flag fluttering in the sky followed by the picture of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik majestically standing tall in the sky.
Thereafter, a number of Omani figures and characters adorned the sky creating awe among the masses watching the show. Many people along the road had stopped their cars to watch the ongoing scintillating show.
It was a grand finale to an eventful evening but the crowd was not in a mood to leave. They were still looking fresh and full of energy to prolong their Qurum park sojourn. The decision to extend the event has been proven right. The festival must have given a learning experience to many Omani startups who have put up their stalls in the park.
