The Cultural Diary

Episod

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  The Coffee So Political the Ottomans Tried to Ban It 14.09.2026 8min

  Tuqa Al Lawati explores how Turkish coffee became more than a drink, from Ottoman-era coffeehouses in Istanbul to its place in homes across the Levant and Oman. This episode looks at ritual, etiquette, hospitality, fortune-telling, and the way coffee traditions travel, change, and still hold people together.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  How Much Has the Gulf Abaya Really Changed? 14.09.2026 11min

  Tuqa Al Lawati examines the abaya beyond its commercial image, asking how a practical outer layer came to reflect taste, routine, and social change. Featuring Bayan Al Subhi’s memories of older styles and Wafaa Al Bulushi’s view from the design side, the episode follows shifts in length, layering, materials, occasion wear, and pricing.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  The Omani Ramadan Tradition That Looks a Little Like Halloween 14.09.2026 10min

  Tuqa Al Lawati explores Qaranqashoh on The Cultural Diary, looking at why this mid-Ramadan tradition means so much in Oman. With insight from Dr. Najma Al Zadjali, the episode traces its sounds, rituals, and Gulf roots, and explains how children’s door-to-door chants reflect community, generosity, and belonging.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  Sudanese Women’s Beauty Secret? 14.09.2026 10min

  In this episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati explores the Sudanese practices of dilka and dukhan through three Sudanese voices. What begins as a conversation about exfoliation, scent, and smoke opens into something deeper: memory, ritual, femininity, and the ways tradition is carried from one generation to the next.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  Why Perfume Matters So Much in Oman and the Gulf 14.09.2026 8min

  Why do perfumes feel so central to life in Oman and the Gulf? Tuqa Al Lawati follows that question from exhibition stalls to social customs, comparing local fragrance habits with Western preferences and tracing how oils, bakhour, oud, and layering create a scent culture that is both practical and deeply expressive.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  Everything You Never Thought to Ask About the Omani Masar 14.09.2026 8min

  In this episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati looks at the Omani musar as both everyday tradition and formal statement. With insight from Saeed Al Lawati, a former traditional wear brand owner, the piece explains how the musar differs from the kumma, how fabrics and styles vary, and what these choices say about taste, occasion, and identity in Oman today.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  Who Does Karak Really Belong To? 14.09.2026 11min

  In this episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati traces how karak moved from Hindi "kadak chai" into everyday life in Oman. With insights from Dr. Sandhya Mehta and memories from Syed Rahi, the episode connects one familiar drink to migration, colonial trade, adaptation, and the ordinary routines that made it feel local.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  What Makes Good Henna Good? 14.09.2026 11min

  In this episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati explores henna as both memory and practice. With insights from Oman-based artists Mehreen and Hayfa, the episode looks at bridal designs, regional style preferences, natural versus instant cones, and the aftercare that helps a stain fully develop.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  Why Is the Battoulah Disappearing in Qatar? 14.09.2026 10min

  In this episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati traces the history of the Qatari Battoulah, a traditional face covering that once marked age, marital status, and womanhood. Through research and a conversation with Qatar-based designer Rabab Abdullah, the episode looks at how the Battoulah has faded from daily life and how design can preserve its meaning in new forms.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  Oman Has the Sabla. Kuwait Has the Diwaniya. What’s the Difference? 14.09.2026 14min

  In this episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati looks at the Omani sabla and the Kuwaiti diwaniya as more than traditional gathering spaces. With insights from academic guests, the episode traces how they shaped hospitality, conflict resolution, social values, and civic life, and asks what their modern equivalents might be today.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  How Many Celebrations Make a Balushi Wedding? 14.09.2026 10min

  In a follow-up to an earlier episode on Lawati weddings, Tuqa Al Lawati turns to Balushi celebrations and what makes them distinct. With insight from Hiba Al Raeesi, the episode traces their tribal and coastal roots, the place of music and dance, and the ways families today combine or adapt older customs without letting them fade.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali
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  What Happens at a Lawati Wedding 14.09.2026 13min

  In this first episode of The Cultural Diary, Tuqa Al Lawati explores the traditions and customs surrounding Lawati weddings in Oman. Featuring Sara Al Lawati and Hussain Al Lawati, the episode examines wedding practices such as Jalawat, the symbolic 401-rial dowry, Istantaq, and older customs once observed in Sur Al Lawatiya by drawing on personal reflections, historical context, and conversations with members of the community. The episode traces how Lawati weddings have evolved over time while highlighting the community’s unique blend of Omani, Indian, Persian, and Shia influences.Written and presented by Tuqa Al LawatiEdited and mixed by Abdullah Al Maawali