DOHA: Fifty-nine teams will embark on a four-day traditional fishing and pearl diving competition at Katara’s third annual Senyar Festival which starts today near Sealine.
Aboard sambuk dhows provided by Katara, the teams comprising 638 members will depart at 4pm from the area.
The number of participants this year has tripled compared to the first edition of the festival which offers QR1.5m in prizes.
Ahmad Al Hatmi, Chairman, the Senyar Organising Committee, said the aim of the competition is to revive this old tradition, introduce professions related to the sea and promote the hobby of pearl diving and fishing in an atmosphere of fair competition.
“The third edition has shown a rise in the number of participants reaching 638, which is higher compared to last year. Katara has prepared 58 dhows for the competitors,” said Al Hatmi.
The competition will conclude with an Al Qafal ceremony, which is a traditional ceremony to welcome fishermen and pearl divers after a safe arrival from the sea.
The five-hour ceremony will honour all participants at Katara Beach.
Jihad Al Jidah, Head of the Judging Committee, said 54 teams will catch fish while the other five will dive for pearls.
“The competition is one of the events Katara is keen to host and organise as a traditional and heritage activity.”
“It revives the maritime tradition and the lives of our ancestors transferred from one generation to another and reflects our relationship with the sea which is deeply rooted in our culture,” said Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara.
It is Katara’s aim is to maintain the Qatari cultural identity and transfer it to new generations, he added.
The Peninsula
