Bahrain witnessed colourful celebrations over the weekend as children went door-to-door, wearing traditional clothes and singing Gergaoun songs under the full moon to mark the occasion after a two-year hiatus.
Gergaoun is celebrated with prayers and festivities by Muslims, mostly in the Arabian Gulf, every year in the middle of Ramadan when the moon is full. The night also commemorates the birth of Prophet Mohammed’s first grandchild.
A two-day Gergaoun celebration was launched by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) at Bab Al Bahrain, featuring plenty of activities.
Crowds flocked to Manama yesterday to enjoy live oud music, children’s storytelling, henna painting and warm food.
Boys wearing traditional thobes, embroidered vests, and hats came to the event, as well as girls wearing bukhnaq, a head-dress embellished with golden threads, and thobe nashal, a garment worn over their dress.
Delicacies from Bahraini cuisine were given out for free, like ‘kebab Bahraini,’ a deep-fried side dish made from flour, vegetables and herbs and luqaimat, a dessert made from fried dough with ‘dibs,’ or sweet date syrup, drizzled on top.
Volunteers
Another Gergaoun event took place at Nuaim youth centre Dream Big, a not-for-profit volunteer group specialising in teaching children the English language. An open event for their volunteers, students and neighbouring children was organised to commemorate the joyous occasion.
“We have a one-month break every Ramadan, so we wanted to do something for children in the meantime,” said Dream Big Nuaim branch assistant leader Yusr Allawi. “We started planning in March and concluded by organising a Gergaoun event.”
Building the piñata, preparing traditional snack and photo booths, treasure hunts, henna drawing, and even providing on-site paramedics were all volunteer efforts, according to Ms Allawi.
“Although a month went into the planning and preparation of the event, it cost us no more than BD100 due to volunteers’ hard work,” said the 19-year-old Jidhafs Secondary Girls’ School senior student.
Ms Allawi’s fellow volunteer Fatema Al Shaikh explained why this night was important to her.
“As a child, I would meet up with my cousins to celebrate Gergaoun,” said the 17-year-old science student.
“We would dress up and go around the neighbourhood singing festive choruses.
“Introducing the new generation to this age-old Bahraini celebration is one of the main goals of the event, and especially the little ones who lived through lockdowns and are experiencing the Gergaoun atmosphere for the first time.
“Helping with this community event feels natural because I was welcomed all around the neighbourhood as a child, given gifts and snacks, so I wanted to give back as I grew older.”
Dream Big founder Hanan Hammad said the majority of volunteers were aged between 15 and 24 years.
“This was all done by them for their community,” she said.
But Gergaoun was not limited in scope to organisations.
The tradition originated in villages, towns and neighbourhoods – and yesterday, residents of the ‘Saraya 2’ neighbourhood near Bu Quwah opened their homes and handed sweets, peanuts, gifts and coins to children who went door-to-door carrying colourful baskets filled to the brim with goodies gathered on the blessed night.
“We wanted to build an atmosphere for children to feel the joy during this holy month,” said one of the residents Ali Abu Kumail, 54.
“People who live here bring little quirks and nuances from how Gergaoun is celebrated back in their hometowns.
“We are all working together to make this occasion memorable and to pass it down to our children and grandchildren.”
Tonight, many villages will celebrate the occasion as families, whether from newly-built residential areas or old towns, gather together for the last night of Gergaoun.
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