Dhow fest a big draw among WC fans

THE Katara International Dhow Festival, which highlights the maritime traditions of Arab states as well as the Arab cultural heritage, is a major attraction for football fans who are in Qatar to attend the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The annual festival is attended by several countries, including Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, India, Iraq, Greece, Tazania, Turkey and Qatar

The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) has organized 51 events that comprise 300 subevents with the participation of 22 countries during the World Cup period until December 18, and Dhow festival is the biggest crowd-puller among them.

A Mexican football fan, Jacinta Maria, told Qatar Tribune: “Exhibitions like this add value to my visit. The dhow festival introduced me to the rich and beautiful traditions and cultures of Arab countries. The exhibition sheds light on the ancient trade links between Arab countries and countries across the world and on the technological prowess of the Arab mariners.”

The live show of making the parts for dhows is a major attraction at the exhibition. “I had the rare opportunity to watch the craftsmanship and the human effort behind this world tradition,” a football lover from Algeria said.

An Indian exhibitor PO Hashim has been a regular participant in the festival for last 10 years.

He said: “The exhibition this year is special for us. The dhow (Baghlah) that has been made without using nails exclusively for the Qatari government is the highlight of our exhibition this year.”

The 27-feet dhow is an example of a ‘sewn’ boat, where craftsmen thread planks together using specially prepared coconut-fibre ropes.”

“The technique predates the era of metal fasteners, and samples of sewn boats can be seen in many ancient civilizations, each with a different methodology. There were more than 80 types of dhows ranging from big ocean-going vessels to small inshore fishing boats. Of the 80 types of dhows that existed in the Arabian Gulf, only about six are still in use,” Hashim added.

The Katara International Dhow Festival also hosts exciting artistic and musical events, marine shows and competitions that shed light on the maritime history, aiming at preserving culture and heritage.