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Showcasing flavours of India at Global Village

January 11, 2014

Global_Village

Dubai, Jan 11: Of the many country pavilions in the Global Village, the India Pavilion stands out in terms of size and variety. It is the largest pavilion at the village. Spread across an area of 11,500 square metres, it is popular with both residents and tourists alike.

“The India pavilion presents a kaleidoscopic view of India’s rich tradition and culture not only to multinational visitors but also to fellow Indians,” says Sunil Bhatia, CEO of India Pavilion, E4 Entertainment, a leading events and exhibitions company in Dubai, is the organiser of the pavilion.

“More than trade participation, the pavilion provides a cultural window. It has become one of the biggest retail exhibitions involved in the promotion of Indian culture, tourism, trade and small-scale industries such as handicrafts and handlooms,” adds Bhatia.

The theme state of India this year is Gujarat and the facade of the pavilion is the replica of the Lakshmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara in Gujarat. As you walk inside, you notice a wide variety of Indian products on display at the various stalls. Handicrafts and handloom products from various states in India dominate.

For the home, you have a choice of wrought iron and wooden furniture, cane and bamboo products, cushion covers, wall hangings, rugs, decorative items, clay/terracotta items, home accessories and furnishing, cotton, silk and designer bedspreads, kitchenware, cutlery and mats.

There are table covers, runners, accessories, handmade and machine-made carpets, candle holders, flower vases, paintings, wood and leather jewellery boxes, lamp shades, picture frames, marble and metal decorative items, coir and jute handicrafts, wood carving, coconut shell work, bidri craft, blue pottery, foot mats, silk painting, canvas, jute and leather bags, pouches and clutches.

There are different types of fabrics and fashion accessories for women. You have a choice of chaniya choli/lehenga choli (bridal wear), salwar suits, saris, tops, kurtis and skirts made of crochets. There is a selection of matching Jaipuri and Punjabi jutties. Besides fashion jewellery, there is a selection of real gold and diamond jewellery.

India is fast emerging as a medical excellence centre and attracts international travellers in large numbers. The allure is endless… be it ayurveda, yoga, meditation, rejuvenating spas, or high-tech healing. At the India Pavilion, there is a selection of ayurvedic and herbal products, Indian spices and packed ethnic foodstuff. Hair accessories and hair treatment products, healthcare products, gems, zodiac stones and vastu-related items also stoke the interest of curious visitors.

Performers at the pavilion continue to charm visitors. The India Pavilion is the only one that has its own stage with a seating capacity of 800. There are cultural programmes six days a week, held in the evening, for two to three hours during which performers from various states of India showcase traditional, cultural and Bollywood dances. Street performers and puppeteers from Rajasthan add to the attraction.

“The puppet show from Rajasthan is a big hit. Tribes of Rajasthan have been performing this art from ancient times and it has become an eternal part of Rajasthani culture and tradition. Demo artists have been specially flown down from India and show live demonstrations of their craft at a specially constructed ‘Handicrafts Hut’ and their skill at henna design is a real crowd-puller at the pavilion,” says Bhatia.

Children, especially the little ones, can experience the miniature merry-go-rounds specially brought in from India to ensure that kids here do not miss out on traditional fun.

Bhatia adds: “The success of earlier editions has encouraged us to increase not only the size of the pavilion but also the space between stalls. This will enable visitors to enjoy more walking space and reduce congestion in the pavilion, considering the favourable results it has achieved.

“Keeping in mind the past sales records, exhibitors will find the extensive promotion, immense popularity and convenient location ideal for the promotion of Indian products, particularly those interested in entering the market for the first time. The Global Village is an attractive retail location and known to have the highest sales of any shopping venue during the Dubai Shopping Festival.”

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Jeddah, Jul 31: Hajj 2020 pilgrims arrived in Muzdalifah Thursday night to rest after spending the day in Arafat.

Earlier, the pilgrims scaled Mount Arafat to pray and repent, as a highly unusual Hajj approached its climax. They listened to a sermon delivered by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea and prayed Dhuhr and Asr prayers together at the Al-Namirah Mosque in Arafat.

This year’s pilgrimage is the smallest in modern times, after the number of participants was greatly restricted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Tight security was in place around the foot of the rocky hill outside Makkah, also known as Jabal Al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, in preparation for the high point of the annual ritual.

Video footage shown on state television showed the pilgrims setting off on their climb to the summit. They wore face masks and observed strict social-distancing rules imposed by Saudi authorities.As sprinklers sprayed water on them to provide relief from the summer desert heat, the pilgrims raised their palms as they climbed the slopes of the hill — the site of Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon. When they reached the top they recited holy verses and prayed for forgiveness for their sins.

Earlier, the pilgrims were taken in buses from Mina to Mount Arafat. Strict precautionary measures were in place, with each group accompanied by security teams, ambulances and civil defense vehicles. 

When they arrived, their temperatures were checked before they entered Namirah Mosque to hear a sermon that was translated into 10 languages.

“The camps were set up for pilgrims in Arafat early on,” said Minister of Hajj and Umrah Muhammad Salih Bentin. The sermon at Namirah Mosque was delivered by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea, who led the pilgrims in noon and afternoon prayers.

“During Hajj this year, we reiterate that it is essential for pilgrims, as well as everyone assisting them, to adhere to the precautionary regulations that have been implemented,” Al-Manea, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, said during his sermon. “This is to be done for their own safety.

“Precautions have been put in place to protect lives against the damage that the pandemic can cause, and also to actualize Islam’s teachings pertaining to safeguarding human life by Allah’s permission.”

The stay in Arafat is described as the pinnacle of Hajj and Muslims around the world reflect the actions of pilgrims by asking for forgiveness and praying for their deepest desires.
Pilgrims left Arafat in coaches for Muzdalifah after sunset and will pray the Maghrib and Isha prayers there.

After sunset prayers, the pilgrims made their way down Mount Arafat to Muzdalifah, where they will spend the night before the final Hajj ritual, the symbolic stoning of the devil. 

This year, each pilgrim received sanitized pebbles in advance of the event on Friday, which is the first day of Eid Al-Adha.
This year the Kingdom faced the unprecedented challenge of ensuring pilgrims attending Hajj were protected as much as possible from the risks of the coronavirus.

They will then sleep, pray the Fajr prayer there tomorrow and then leave for Mina.

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Agencies
July 16,2020

Riyadh, Jul 16: Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, minister of interior and chairman of the Hajj Supreme Committee, chaired a virtual meeting on Wednesday with the heads of  security agencies and officials in charge of this year’s Hajj season.

During the meeting, the minister and security officials discussed organizational issues related to Hajj, including preventive and precautionary steps related to fighting the coronavirus disease, procedures related to pilgrims commuting to the holy sites, and mechanisms to facilitate performing the Hajj rituals.

Prince Abdul Aziz confirmed abiding by the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to take all precautions to preserve the safety of the pilgrims, and facilitate their performance of their Hajj rituals, according to the highest health standards to contain the new coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia has decided to allow only a limited number of domestic pilgrims to perform Hajj this year in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Only those expatriates between the ages of 20 and 50 who are not suffering from any chronic diseases can apply for the pilgrimage.

Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that requests from people of 160 nationalities in the Kingdom have been screened electronically to select who will perform Hajj this year.

Of the pilgrims who will receive approval, 70 percent will be non-Saudis residing in the Kingdom and the remaining 30 percent will be Saudi citizens.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said that anyone found entering the sites of Hajj (Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat) without a permit from July 18 till the end of Dhu Al-Hijjah 12 will be issued with a fine of SR10,000 ($2,600).

The fine will be doubled if the offence is repeated. Security personnel will be posted on roads leading to the holy sites to ensure that anyone who breaks the law will be stopped and fined.

Around 2.5 million foreign and domestic pilgrims performed Hajj last year.

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Agencies
May 7,2020

A patient in hospital with Covid-19 has given birth to a healthy baby boy in Dubai.

The 25-year-old Indian was admitted to Al Zahra Hospital after testing positive on May 2.

Although the baby was not due to arrive until May 19, the woman went into labour three days later and delivered a healthy boy weighing 3.8kg.

The parents are yet to name the child, who has also been tested for the virus.

“When we first received the Covid-19 positive diagnosis, we were afraid for the health of both my wife and the baby,” said the boy’s father, who did not want to give his name.

“Thankfully with the help of the doctors and nurses at Al Zahra Hospital, my son was born with no complications and my wife remains in stable condition.

“We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Despite arriving two weeks early, both mother and child are doing well but will only be allowed to leave the hospital to return to their home in Dubai after they return three negative tests on the trot.

“The contractions started very suddenly and it all happened very quickly,” said Al Zahra Hospital nursing director Maysoon Yousef.

“The delivery took about 10 to 15 minutes which is something we do not see very often.

“There were no complications and both the mother and baby are in good condition.”

Strict measures are in place to ensure hygiene for those inside the hospital, as well as visitors.

The new mum and her son are in the same room as the baby needs to be nursed.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a US national public health institute, there is no evidence that suggests the virus can be transmitted through breastfeeding.

New mothers infected with the virus should wear a mask, wash their hands before and after touching the baby.

“We operate by the latest Covid-19 international and local guidelines when it comes to the management of our maternity patients and otherwise,” said Dr Ghassan Lutfi, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the hospital.

“We take strict measures to guarantee that there is no risk of cross contamination and that all our patients are in safe hands.”

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