And then the Ramadan cannon boomed...

Last time, I spoke about an incident which encouraged me, a devout Christian, to start fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. There were a lot of positive comments, both on the QL thread as well as on Facebook. So thank you everyone, for your kind words. Much appreciated.

Today, after three years, I went to see the Ramadan cannon again. The last time I did so, it was next to the old post office. But this time, it was at the State Grand Mosque, opposite the Qatar Sports Club.

I arrived at 5.50pm and there was already a sizeable crowd in place. The sun was slowly going down and the place looked serene. I heard children laughing and running around, watched fondly by parents and a few grandparents as well.

I saw one grandfather point his finger at a policeman, as if to scare his young, unruly grandchild. He stood silently for a moment and then went and hugged the policeman’s leg. Smiling, he bent down, took the child in his arms, and gave a kiss on his forehead. He then got him a gift from the back of his car.

Seeing that, several other children crowded around him and none of them went home disappointed. Like a thinner, Muslim version of Santa Claus, he kept taking gifts and passing it to children milling around him. He kissed some and hugged others. It was a joyous gathering.

And then came the five little girls, all dressed in dark gowns and hair covered in golden yellow ornaments. The minute they entered the compound, they shone bright. They too got a lot of gifts and hugs, mostly from Qatari ladies who had come to watch. (It was a lucky coincidence that I chose Garangao night to watch the cannon).

After some time, policemen politely started requesting people to move to the back of a makeshift barrier a few metres away from the cannon.

As one army officer rotated a lever to lower the barrel of the cannon (which had been raised to let children sit atop it and take pictures), another kept looking at his watch for exactly the right moment.

And then, in a split second, a warning and an almighty boom. Although I’d been fully expecting it, I jumped up and missed the shot I’d been waiting for with my camera. I looked around with a sheepish grin and people were smiling at me. They’d seen me jump out of my skin.

An elderly man offered me a share of the packet of dates he had brought with him and I happily accepted. It seemed like a universal symbol of brotherhood.

And so, I returned happily to my pad to type out my experiences and share the pictures I took.

NOTE 1: If anyone wishes to go see the cannon, it’s located across the road from Qatar SC Stadium. The road leading inside is clearly marked. There’s always lots of parking space around.

NOTE 2: Be sure to arrive there around 6pm, as you’ll get a chance to put your children atop the cannon’s barrel and take some amazingly cute snaps.

NOTE 3: Policemen will ask everyone to clear the cannon area and get behind the erected barriers by around 6.23. Be early to avoid disappointment.