Wednesday 15 / January / 2025
Muscat: A thrilling Diwali assembly and enthusiastic students welcomed the team from the Muscat Media Group (MMG) on their arrival at the Indian School Darsait to promote the ‘I Love the Sultan’ campaign.
With brightly coloured outfits, sweets and a special Diwali performance, including songs and dances, the students at ISD gave the campaign a very warm reception.
While addressing the gathering of over a 1,000 students, Richard Pakenham, chief sales and marketing officer at MMG, thanked the school for its whole hearted welcome and said, “All of you energetic and wonderful students who are enjoying your lives in Oman have somebody special to thank, that is His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, he has been a wonderful leader coming up to 46 years.”
He further went on to explain the concept of the campaign, “The idea is that everyone registers their names through our various internet, web and mobile channels, and those names will be included in a magnificent portrait of the Sultan, which we will publish in the newspaper and on all our internet and online channels on the National Day. We will then make a mural of the portrait, which will go into a very prominent public place for generations to see and admire.”
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“There are wonderful prizes to be won, but the best of all is for the class within one of the schools, the one which gathers the maximum number of names through the registrations, that class will be rewarded with a wonderful party for up to 150 people at one of the top restaurants in Muscat, it will be a night to remember.”
Extending the team a warm welcome, Dr. Sridevi P. Thashnath, principal of the school, said, “The moment we received the news of this campaign, we were very excited. It’s a golden opportunity because there are feelings of respect and pride that we live in Oman. The moment you speak of ‘I Love the Sultan,’ it says a lot, and we will ensure that the entire ISD takes part. The 46th National Day will have a most memorable celebration.”
Elegance of the campaign
“Involving children adds to the beauty and elegance of the campaign, so visiting schools and making children happy and enthusiastic, is in itself a beautiful initiative and I have very high regards and appreciation for the Times of Oman, and the Muscat Media Group. It’s a brilliant idea, and I am sure every school will be looking forward to this.”
Badra Ashok Kumar, a grade 11 student of ISD said, “The programme is one wonderful opportunity for all the students living in the beautiful Oman and we are all very excited to know that our names will be included in the portrait of His Majesty, and through this we wish to show our gratitude to the Sultan.”
With the ‘I Love the Sultan,’ MMG aims to register about 100,000 participants in this biggest ever campaign organised by the group.
Following the resounding initial success of the Times of Oman’s ‘I Love the Sultan’ campaign, the ‘Saarab’ augmented reality application (app) has been launched in order to make it easier for people to participate in this campaign.
“I love The Sultan” is an innovative digital campaign that will create a portrait of His Majesty using the names of hundreds of thousands of residents, Omani and expatriate alike.
Anyone who registers will also be entered into the biggest-ever prize draw from MMG, with OMR25,000 worth of gifts to be won.
These include a brand new Nissan Xtrail, diamonds, several iPhone7s, a luxury family holiday thanks to the major sponsorship partners, including Suhail Bahwan automobile, Malabar Gold & Diamonds and the Sheraton Oman hotel.
The portrait will be published in the National Day edition of the Times of Oman and uploaded on all its social media platforms and website.
Times of Oman readers can participate by registering their names online via the link www.timesofoman.com/extra/ilovethesultan or visit www.timesofoman.com and click the banners.
