Sunday, Aug 09, 2009
Gulf News
Cairo: Wearing his trademark coat and cap, detective Corombo is a familiar character to TV audience across the Arab world.
Though launched months ago, the cartoon character, apparently inspired by the US thriller Colombo, has proved popular through a short whodunit quiz show. Corombo's latest inroad is the lantern-making industry, which usually thrives in the holy month of Ramadan.
A few weeks before Ramadan, Egypt's markets were flooded with lanterns, known locally as fawanees, designed to look like popular Corombo. Local lantern traders say the Corombo lanterns are in high demand.
More than one month ago, we put a big notice on the front of our store announcing that Corombo lanterns will be available soon along with a picture of the lantern. In a few days, we received many orders from retailers, said Abdul Fadeel Hamouda, the owner of a shop in central Cairo.
The character of Corombo is now a household name in Egypt and in other Arab countries. So it's a good idea to use the character to popularise this year's Ramadan lanterns, Hamouda told Gulf News.
Since ninth century, lanterns have traditionally become a feature in Egypt of Ramadan when Muslims have to abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to the dusk.
In the run-up to Ramadan, the buildings and shops in Egypt, especially in working-class areas, are usually decorated with large lanterns. Ramadan is expected this year to start on August 22. The pleasure of Ramadan is not complete without the festive lanterns, said Kamal Abbas, the owner of another store retailing lanterns.
By Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
