Thousands gather with pride & nostalgia at Syria Day event

Six-year-old Mohammed Joud Ahmed could barely sit still as he walked into Expo City Dubai on Saturday morning.

- SM Ayaz Zakir

Syrians gather at Expo City Dubai for Syria Day celebrations on Saturday.

(SM AYAZ ZAKIR / KHALEEJ TIMES)

Wearing a small Syrian flag pinned to his shirt, he held his mother Oula's hand, eager to join the thousands celebrating Syria Day at Expo City Dubai.

"I was waiting for this day," Mohammed said as his eyes lit up upon seeing the food and hundreds of Syrian children at the event. His mother, Oula, said that he had been counting the days. "He kept asking me, 'When will we go to the Syria celebration?' He feels proud to be part of this."

For Mohammed, the excitement was simple and pure music, colours, food and a chance to feel close to the country he hears about every day at home. "I like the flag, and I like the dabkeh (traditional dance)," he said.

Among the crowds were three young men Shabab Hassan, Mohammed Nur and Abu Khalid, dressed in traditional Syrian attire. Their embroidered vests and tarboosh caps immediately caught the attention of visitors who stopped to take photos.