Visit the ‘fairylands’ of Sharjah under the light

the Sharjah Light Festival has created many ‘little fairylands” all over the emirate with dazzling lights and colourful 3D images. Initiated by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the light festival has given magical effect to 12 sites of the emirate with the artistry and technical wizardry of international artists and craftsmen from Limelight, a Budapest-based group.   From the picturesque Khalid Lagoon, the magical reflections of these sites could be seen in a dhow cruise.   The nightly shows from 7pm come in the interval of 10 to 15 minutes.  Sharjah’s popular landmark Central Souq, which is one of the chief attractions of the light festival, is lit this year with unique candle light flames all around, fascinating the young and old.   Al Majaz Waterfront that opened recently with its popular eateries is another major attraction this year, not to mention Al Majaz mosque nearby. From the Khalid Lagoon, watching Dar Al Qazaa or House of Justice’s colourful reflection on the water along the creek is another treat for the eyes. At Al Hisn Fort, which was the residence of Sharjah rulers until the last century, lights tell the story of the emirate’s eventful journey over the past decades every night until February 17.  Thousands of fascinated spectators watch Sharjah’s oldest landmark turning into a giant screen recapturing the dramatic transition of the emirate into the cultural capital of the Arab and Islamic world. The Sharjah Consultative Council and Kuwait Roundabout show an enchanting interplay of lights and colours, giving a totally different look to the popular landmarks retracing the old days to the oil discovery in the UAE and its fast conversion into a developed nation. “Indeed, it  becomes a wonderland of some sort,” Rachina, an Indian mom with her  two-year-old son on the stroller beside her, was saying. The Cultural Roundabout or Quran Roundabout creates a surreal experience with the lights and colours illumine playing the Quran at the centre of the square and the magnificent monuments all around.