Old Time Kuwait
Last night, driving around our area, we saw something new, something I love. In place of the now-departed semi-permanent constructed diwaniyyas with their comforts and air conditioning, we saw a return of the old diwaniyya benches, with cushions, and traditionally dressed men lounging, conversing, solving the problems of Kuwait and the world out in the relative cool of evening in Kuwait.
It looked like the old days. It could have been ten years ago.
I wonder if there isn’t a new feeling, with a change of venue? I wonder if the absence of walls and modernity will bring a new openness in diwaniyya attendance? At one diwaniyya, I even saw coffee being brewed in the old pots, over coals, in a brass brazier.
Poor AdventureMan. He knows I always have my camera with me. He is terrified I will embarass him by stopping and asking if I can take photos. Rest easy, AdventureMan, I don’t have that much courage. π
AdventureMan wants to know: In Qatar, gatherings are called Majlis, the room is called a majlis. How does majlis differ from diwaniyya?
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I will write a post now for you about it.
Check my blog for it π
http://ansam518.blogspot.com/2008/05/diwaniya.html
There you go! π
3baid! talking to me or intlxpat? LOL
I tried to explain diwaniya but did not know how to do the same to Majlis! LOL
intlxpat π
majlis literally translates into ‘seating place/area’. diwaniya is reserved for men, while the term majlis can be used to for both genders.
* i wouldnt invite u to my diwaniya, but i would invite u to my majlis.
hope that helpsff
Mrm, you are Kuwaiti, so I shouldn’t argue with you, but architects speak of the men’s diwaniyya and the women’s diwaniyya – that they are what we call gathering rooms. . . Hmmmmmmm. I got the impression that it is like what the French call a salon – a place where people gather and ideas are exchanged, and opinions. . .
that may very well be the case, i doubt my knowledge on the subject surpasses an architects; would just like to point out that women do not call it diwaniyas (that is a guy thing), the equivalent is called majlis, jalsa, qaa’da, yam’a, etc. they all mean seating area+gathering π
OK, I can totally buy that, that women don’t call it diwaniyya . . .and that majlis means seating area!
And I love all the synonyms!
When we have gone to private social events where women gather in one room and men in another, AdventureMan always tells me that he thinks the women have more fun – they can hear all the laughing!