Saturday, Feb 16, 2008
Gulf News
Muscat: Hundreds of music lovers lapped up different fares dished out on the last weekend of the 26-day Muscat Festival, which came to a close onb Friday.
Nearly 5,000 people turned up on Thursday night for Rajiv Chaudhary's light and shadow show 'Musical Hungama 08' at the City Amphitheatre.
The packed open air venue saw Hindi film music director Anu Malik and singer Vinod Rathod belting out popular Indian film songs for over four hours. The glamour quotient was provided by actresses Preeti Jhangiani and Kim Sharma.
On Friday, at Seeb Beach, popular Saudi singer Abdul Majid Abdullah brought the curtain down on the festival with a rocking concert that was attended by over 10,000 fans as they jostled for space at the long-stretch of the beach.
The duration of the ninth edition of the annual extravaganza was shortened but two new venues were added and the Muscat Municipality officials are expecting the number of total visitors to touch three million mark this year.
The Muscat Municipality chairman paid tribute to those involved in meeting the deadline and put Qurum Nature Park, which suffered an extensive damage during the tropical cyclone Gonu last year, in shape to host the major attraction of the festival - the heritage village and the other activities.
Unprecedented turnout
"The success of the festival is the reflection of the resolve of all those who chose to make the event a reality against all odds, especially in the wake of the destruction caused to the Qurum Natural Park during last June's adverse weather conditions," said Engineer Abdullah Bin Abbas Bin Ahmad, Muscat Municipality Chairman, on Friday.
"The unprecedented visitor turnout also attested to the variety of venues, diversity of activities and events, and the innovative appeal the 2008 edition of the festival," he added.
Bin Ahmad said the inclusion of Al Sahwa Garden, where only women, children and families were allowed entry, in the line-up of festival venues also added to the overall appeal of the event. He said the annual Muscat Festival complements other festivals held simultaneously in other Gulf countries.
The Seeb Beach, the venue where concerts by popular singers like Nancy Ajram, Rashid Al Majid, Abdul Majid Qadir, Hussain Al Jasmi, and Yara were held, was a major crowd puller throughout the festival.
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
