Dazzling laser diplay wows Doha audience

THE Doha Corniche wore a futuristic look yesterday when the switches to giant laser beams, water fountains and music, installed on a 4.5km stretch were turned on as part of the National Day festivities.

Bathed in purple - the organisers wanted something close to the colour of the national flag maroon - the whole bay area radiated exuberance - and pride. It welcomed tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators as the sun went down.

For starters, ten water fountains installed throughout the waterfront area of the Corniche hissed to life. Pictures of life and history of Qatar then started appearing in the 5-metre tall geyser of water.

Programmed for up to an hour, the first picture was that of the maroon-white-yellow state logo, followed by that of a few hands holding the national flag. Image of HH the Emir, beaming with pride, followed.

The loop went on to display pictures of dhows, the wooden boats going into the Arabian Gulf, pearl divers getting ready to search for their livelihood and finally jumping.

And if it was not up to the high-tech arrangements, one would have never seen a pearl diver splashing in the water, right on a water-screen.

Next slide rolled: Pearl divers delving deep in the waters only to emerge minutes later with their finds.

Pictures of hundreds of pearls being selected and screened came next.

The flashback to the past continued with everything from Qatar’s marine diversity to desert excursions on camels. The progress on the slides was slow but the changing images fast gave way to modern Qatar that we know today.

“We’ve been preparing for this for the past two-and-a-half weeks,” a technician from the UK said.

“Setting up 10 water fountains across this ‘vast’ stretch, coupled with lights under palm trees and dozens of giant laser beams is very ambitious. That’s a lot of money,” he added.

The projection of images of Qatar was also set up at the Al Nasser Tower (next to the Commercial Bank Tower) using “super and multiple projectors”. Music played in sync throughout.

“As the pumps, located on the metal deck, throw water upward, a projector

simultaneously “sprays” images towards the metal disc that is installed on the deck. All the equipment are connected with Ethernet,” the pyro-technician tried to make sense of it all.

The giant laser beams, being thrown from seven different points across the Corniche went way into the skies, supposedly following the skyscrapers that seem to be heading that way.

Adding to the fantasy was the distinctive Museum of Islamic Art and the spiral-shaped Fanar Mosque, both bathed in lights that would have any visitor awestruck.

“This is the best National Day I’ve ever celebrated. I’m very proud right now,” said a Qatari mother. She brought the whole family of 11 that encompassed three generations.

“I love it,” her 10-year-old son said, waving a maroon-and-white flag.

The wheel-chair bound grandfather was too emotional to comment.

Next slide please!