(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Doha: Traditional dhows of varying types and sizes showcased at the 10th Katara Traditional Dhow Festival have been attracting visitors to the five-day event, which concludes today.
With strict precautionary measures against COVID-19 well in place, the festival yesterday welcomed visitors with music and authentic cultural shows.
Dozens of dhows can be seen lined up at the Katara Esplanade and on the beach, while dozens more sail into the sea making a picturesque sight to behold for many visitors who came to experience the festival.
The dhows, whose origins can be traced many generations back, come in different shapes, designs and names. They were also used for different purposes like for fishing, pearl diving and transport.
The ‘Al-Boom' was one of the most famous types of vessels intended for the transportation of goods through the Gulf ports, from the Arabian Sea into the Indian Ocean and as far as the African countries. The ‘Sanbok' was used to cross seas and the ocean to reach India and Zanzibar in Tanzania.
The ‘Al-Bateel' has been used for pearl diving purposes while ‘Jalbot' loader in addition to the ‘owls' has been among the oldest sailing vessels used for long distance voyages in maritime transport of the past. They also carried horses and dates among other commodities. The Baggara and Shu'i were also used for such voyages.
The dhows along with the various pavilions displaying varied items in addition to the different traditional shows, activities and competitions make the annual festival informative, educational and entertaining.
A major aim of the festival is to preserve the country's maritime tradition by educating the new generation of its significance. The Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum is one of the participants which has great presence in the festival imparting important maritime historical facts to visitors.
Qatar's glorious maritime history has been traced through various eras through the display of books, paintings, boats and materials used for sea voyages in the past.
This year, the museum displays some rare pictures of sea-diving, rare large lanterns used on sailing boats when there was no modern navigational tools like radar or the GPS. The lanterns are in different sizes and well preserved. The museum is also showcasing a number of engine gadgets from Europe that have been used in the region and preserved for rarity and historic and cultural importance.
Also on show are tools used for pearl diving, boats, and equipment used by deep sea divers made from goat horns.
The museum also contains old photos of pearl diving trips which paint a vivid picture of an authentic past of Qatari forefathers.
The festival will remain open from 10am to 10pm today.
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