MUBARAKIYA MARKET CELEBRATIONS

The Mubarakiya Market or Souq Mubarakiya is a old traditional market place. The charming part being the elaborate wooden architecture that transports you to the 60's. You will find a huge number of small shops selling all kinds of things from antiques, decorative articles, house hold items, perfumes, food, traditional confectionary, clothes, toys, spices, dates, nuts. There is also a meat and vegetable market. If you shop here, you have to haggle with the shopkeepers to get a best price. There are plenty of restaurants with their elaborate outdoor seating which is really a nice place to unwind and have some traditional food after you have walked around and explored the Mubarakiya market. And it's a very busy place. The open restaurant and seating area is close to the children's playground. If you have children, they are sure to have a good time at the playground. 

Last Saturday, we paid a visit  to the Mubarakiya market place to take some photos of the celebration that has been going on as a part of the upcoming National and Liberation days. The market place is decorated with beautiful lighting. The best time to go is before the sunset so you get to enjoy the place in the day light and stay back after the sunset, so you can enjoy all the beautiful lighting and festivities in the evening. The lights come on around 5.30 pm. As a part of the celebration, there are lots of stalls set up selling food, clothes, art work, plenty of things. There is an outdoor stage set up parallel to the stalls area where traditional events and dances take place every 15 minutes. 

I was telling my husband, every time I come here, which is once in a blue moon actually, I am filled with nostalgia and excitement. This place reminds me of my childhood days, when I used to come with my parents to shop for fruits and vegetables. Today 13 February is the last day of the Mubarakiya market celebrations in case you want to pay a visit and enjoy the festive atmosphere.  The lights and celebrations from 5.30 pm to 10 pm. Here are some photos I took. Enjoy!