by Alexis Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network – Doha (SP)

Doha, Dec 20: The residents of Qatar celebrated the National Day with fervour and patriotic zeal on Sunday December 19. Both nationals and expatriates turned up in large numbers to watch the military-civilian parade and the accompanying ceremonies on the Doha Corniche.

It was a sea of maroon and white all over the place, as the people with painted their faces and cars in the colours of the national flag, participated in the celebrations. Men, women and children took part in the celebrations enthusiastically, and many of them were seen carrying banners with the pictures of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and HH the Heir Apparent, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Joy and national pride were writ large on the face of the citizens, who joyously joined in the celebrations in the wake of two major achievements, of winning the bid to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup, and the nation becoming the world’s top exporter of gas. The pleasant weather added to the festive mood.

The national flag fluttered from almost all vehicles and some of the cars were painted with words like ‘I love Qatar’.

The Emir, accompanied by HH the Heir Apparent, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH the Personal Representative of HH, the Emir Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH the Personal Adviser to HH, the Emir Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and others, watched the parade staged by the Qatari armed forces, the interior ministry, the Internal Security Force (Lakhwiya) and the Emiri Guard.

The parade started with the rendition of the national anthem, and the recitation of the verses from the Holy Qur’an. An 18-gun salute was fired welcoming the Emir.

The parade included infantry columns of the army, the police and the Emiri Guard. A parade of the thorough-bred and pure Arabian horses and camels was also staged on the occasion. Armoured vehicles, and the ancient and modern military equipment, were also on display. Fighter jets and helicopters performed an air show, even as 24 traditional dhow boats sailed past. Thousands of flag-waving people thronged the Corniche to witness the parade.

Vehicles carrying dignitaries, led by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani followed the marching contingents, with the leaders waving to the crowds, which responded with cheers. Men immaculately dressed in their uniforms representing the security forces, marched from the Wadi Al Sail grounds up to the ministry of interior (MoI) office and turned right towards Al Bida before dispersing.

Among those taking part were members of the army, navy, air force, internal security force, police, civil defence, coast guard, heritage police, cadets of academies and training institutes, policewomen and schoolchildren.

Even as the march-past progressed along one side, the stretch along the sea face witnessed a parallel parade comprising a large number of battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns, propellers, infantry vehicles, mine-detectors, surveillance equipment, fire extinguishers, coastguard vessels, ambulances and vintage cars belonging to the armed forces. While displaying the country’s military prowess in ample measure, the parade also highlighted its cultural heritage.

Well ahead the start of the procession, several thousand locals and expatriates flocked to the venue, many leaving their vehicles behind. Scores of people, including families, could be seen walking towards the venue. Hundreds of vehicles were seen parked in the stretches of barren land surrounding Al Bida and Wadi Al Sail.

As the crowd on the footpath along the parade route grew bigger, police personnel allowed several people to move on to the wide middle lawns of the road, especially from the vantage points near the MoI office. This helped a number of people to have a good view of the parade of armoured vehicles taking place on the stretch closer to the sea.

During the major part of the parade, helicopters of the armed forces carrying national flags flew over the area. One of the breathtaking sights was three daredevils of the air force hanging from a helicopter by a rope.

Onlookers cheered the participants, chanting slogans hailing the country. A number of the vehicles on display had 2022 inscribed on them, celebrating the country’s successful bid to host the football world cup that year.   

While the parade was in full flow, the crowds were treated to aerobatics by warplanes and helicopters. A brand new Airbus aircraft of Qatar Airways stunned the onlookers by flying at a low altitude.

The parade also featured a cavalcade of colourfully decorated horses and camels, with young and old Qatari citizens riding them.
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