People watch dance performance in the Khan al-Wazir, or al-Wazir caravanserai, in the ancient part of Aleppo city, Syria, June 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
by Hummam Sheikh Ali
ALEPPO, Syria, June 6 (Xinhua) -- With colorful lights shining on its ancient rocks and vibrant traditional tunes reverberating through the cracks of its walls, Khan al-Wazir, a centuries-old caravanserai in the old city of Aleppo, has started to come back to life after the thick dust of war hung over it for long years.
At the gate of the time-honored khan, people were pouring in droves to enjoy their evening time during the holy month of Ramadan, to listen to melodic Aleppo tunes and browse through delicate hand-made products.
Festooned traditional outfits, hand-made table clothes, as well as the famous Aleppo olive soap, were displayed in the shops surrounding the courtyard of the khan, while an oriental band was playing joyful music.
Folklore also has its share of the music show. Dancers were performing several routines, mainly the traditional sword acts, in which they jump and do special moves with swords, while banging on drums.
Other Ramadan traditions are also revived, such as the Hakawati, or the storyteller, who tells people stories in ancient coffee shops about the old love stories and heroism.
The Mesaharati, another Ramadan tradition which apparently disappeared in Aleppo during and after the war, is also expected to return.
It is a volunteer profession where a man roams the streets every Ramadan night to wake people up for the pre-dawn meal called al-Suhur.
All these signs just send a message that Aleppo is rising from war and death to embrace life to the fullest, as the people in Aleppo are famous for their determination to work and live despite all difficulties.
Shaher Naser, a salesman of Aleppo olive soap, told Xinhua that the soap industry in the city has developed as the manufacturers are combining modern techniques with traditional craftsmanship, while maintaining the same old spirit and quality of this industry.
"We want to deliver a message that we are here alive and working despite the war, to deliver a beautiful image of us to the world about our heritage and old industries for which Aleppo is famous," Naser said.
In another corner of the khan, Muhammad Silo was busy painting a picture of the ancient citadel of Aleppo, while double-checking the details from a photo on his mobile phone.
"We want to rebuild our country and bring back peace and security after all the destruction and war. My message is the message of art as it doesn't need any linguistic interaction but a feeling," he told Xinhua.
For Aleppo, a treasure box filled with history, Khan al-Wazir, one of the largest khans in Aleppo, is the cream of the Syrian old city.
Built in 1093, the khan is located in the old city of Aleppo between the historic citadel and the Great Mosque, boasting a large central courtyard surrounded by a two-storey block of buildings.
Unlike other parts of eastern Aleppo that were largely destroyed during the rebel presence in the city, the Khan al-Wazir sustained little damage.
Hope, a key word that all people in the khan are talking about, has helped the Aleppo people throughout every hardship they faced in the past, especially during the time ahead of the defeat of rebels in late 2016.
Meanwhile, the heritage of Aleppo is also reflected in the experiences of the young generation, who spent a large chunk of their lives in the war and has started to enjoy love of life after years of hardships.
Lama, 17, was snapping a selfie with the duck face, while trying a traditional red hat called Tarbush with her friends in the khan.
"We came here to see the legacy of our country after a long time in the war ... we will remain here and will revive our traditions," she said.
