Also an artist, Lilianne celebrates world cultures and she took a liking to Diwali when her Indian friends celebrated the festival. She was intrigued by the Festival of Lights and then she joined in too. Now it has gone one step further to garlands and lamps – Rangoli.
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
Dutch adventurist, Lilianne Donders is known for 2,500 km trek with her camel caravan, a month long journey from Iran to Oman in 2003/2004. The journey was to support a hospital for the Palestinian refugees and eventually she contributed to United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Lilianne celebrates world cultures and she developed special love for Diwali. She is intrigued by the Festival of Lights and then she joined in too. Now it has gone one step further to garlands and lamps – Rangoli.
She has been a promoter of camel milk for better health as it has been proven Calen milk a low fat milk has many medicinal benefits.
She had been in Oman for more than three decades and that makes the total number of years in Gulf 44 years.
She and her husband Robert Weener and her children Jasper and Sander have enjoyed her journeys and adventures. Sheba and Zubaida are her exceptional camels who have been part of her life even during her toughest period when she battled cancer.
“To understand different cultures, it is important not to observe from the outside but from the inside. We are privileged that we live amongst many amazing cultures, each with their own traditions. We are all humans, and it really doesn’t make a difference where we come from, and sharing traditions makes the world a better place.”
— Lilianne Donders
Camels are important part of her life and now they are all in the UAE.
Also an artist, Lilianne celebrates world cultures and she took a liking to Diwali when her Indian friends celebrated the festival. She was intrigued by the Festival of Lights and then she joined in too. Now it has gone one step further to garlands and lamps – Rangoli.
“Our street in Dubai has many Indian families, and the houses all have lights. And in Oman we celebrated with Ashok and Kurderam the yearly diwali. All candles in the garden were so special. This colouring is new,” said Lilianne.
Lilianne and her grandson were busy for Diwali this year adding traditional touches to the day and not to forget the peacock by Alex. It took several hours.
“This rock i gound years ago, and as it has a trunk, we called it Ghanesh . Yearly, we decorated it and put candles in front. This is for Ashok,” noted Lilianne.
This is what she has to say about the experience, “To understand different cultures, it is important not to observe from the outside but from the inside. We are privileged that we live amongst many amazing cultures, each with their own traditions. We are all humans, and it really doesn’t make a difference where we come from, and sharing traditions makes the world a better place,” she explained.
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