Tribal slurs banned in national camel festival
JEDDAH: The administration of the King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival said there will be strict penalties, including a ban on participation, for those who harass visitors and participants.
Gatherings must be legal and organized, said the head of the organizing committee, Fawzan Al-Madi, who urged participants to control their supporters and alert them to follow instructions. Festival organizers are working to ensure the safety of participants and visitors, he added.
Camels are categorized into Digg, Jill, and Fahal according to their age, said expert Fari bin Fahd Al-Dosari, adding that the festival nurtures competition between camel owners in the beauty contest.
He explained that the Digg category includes several camel ages, such as the Mofrada, which is more than six months old, the Haqqa, which is three, and the Jatha’a, which is four.
Jill, according to Al-Dosari, is a category for five-year-old camels while Ruba’a camels are six. Sudus camels are seven, and Shaq camels are those that have had their first canine tooth.
He added: “The Fahal is the male camel that fertilizes female camels.”
“The King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival proved capable of improving and adopting what makes the competition tougher between owners, who go above and beyond to win the King Abdul Aziz Camel Beauty Contest Award,” he said.
The King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) cooperated with several relevant authorities to organize this festival, especially the Ministry of the Interior, which sets regulations and procedures.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture also contributed in setting the regulations for the veterinary aspects to protect camels.
The Ministry of Health monitors health developments associated with this occasion, while the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) selects the location, design and planning.