Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, through its Women’s Sports Department and in collaboration with Bait Al Zubair Museum, recently hosted an event titled “Journey Through Time... A Journey Through the Senses” as part of the “Your Movement is a Blessing” sports programme aimed at elderly women. The initiative was designed to foster social interaction among participants while rekindling their memories and highlighting Oman’s rich cultural heritage.
The event combined elements of physical activity with sensory and cultural engagement to create an interactive experience for elderly women. It featured a guided tour of Bait Al Bagh, where attendees explored traditional Omani customs and crafts historically associated with women, including incense making, weaving, pottery, and palm-leaf handicrafts. The women were also offered the opportunity to actively participate in some of these traditional practices, encouraging a hands-on revival of cultural memories.
Badriya bint Said Al Wahaibi, Head of the Community Programmes Section at the Women’s Sports Department, emphasized that the initiative complemented the programme’s goals of encouraging social engagement and helping elderly women reconnect with their past experiences. She noted that the collaboration with the museum lent a cultural and recreational dimension to the activities, blending movement with sensory interaction rooted in Omani traditions.
Participants reflected on the impact of the event in recalling personal and collective histories. Shaikha bint Rashid al Battashi of the Oman Women’s Association in Sidab described how the activities evoked memories of her childhood, family life, and the development of Oman during the reign of the late Sultan Qaboos. She highlighted National Day celebrations in Qurayat, which included family gatherings at the fort to watch traditional performances, boat races, and popular games along the sea. She also recalled everyday scenes such as her mother and neighbors collecting water and firewood from palm groves during a time when electricity was gradually becoming available.
Similarly, Shaikha bint Jameel al Farsi from the Ihsan Association spoke about the simplicity of education during her youth, particularly in learning the Holy Quran in neighborhood settings before the establishment of formal schools. She shared recollections of her disciplined teacher and the improvisation children employed, such as using courtyard walls and ground surfaces as makeshift writing spaces due to the scarcity of notebooks.
Zainab bin Sulaiman al Zadjali from Muttrah’s Jendaan area added that the event brought back memories of outdoor childhood play, including mountain climbing and close-knit neighborly relationships before sunset.
The programme aims to continue offering similar activities, enabling elderly women to preserve and celebrate Omani heritage while fostering intergenerational connections within the community.