Saad Al-Suwaidi
Doha, Qatar - Katara is hosting the 8th edition of the Senyar Festival, a traditional fishing and pearl diving competition.
This year, the festival will feature a rich variety of cultural events and maritime contests, which includes different methods of fishing such as “Hadaq” and “Laffah”.
In addition to the two traditional modes of fishing, the festival also includes “Ghoos”, a traditional pearl diving practice.
“Hadaq” is a fishing method where the Dhow or bandar is docked in a fixed position.
The team leader, Al Nokhitha, chooses a specific area within the competition boundaries and remains in one place while his team fishes.
The leader can choose to change location throughout the competition, but cannot fish while moving. The winning team will be determined upon weighing the collective catch.
“Laffah” utilizes a mobile dhow (traditional arabian boat), which moves within the perimeter of the competition while participants fish.
The team cannot fish while the dhow is still, and, again, the winning team will be decided based upon the weight of the collective catch.
“Ghoos” is a pearl diving competition, whereby each team selects a specific area within the limits of the competition, and dive to extract oysters from the depths of the sea. The team is entitled to change the diving spot in order to search for oysters.
The divers can’t use anything other than a marine telescope to assist them. The team that collects the largest number of oysters will be crowned the winners.
Aside from the three main contests within the festival, there are also some individual competitions such as:
1-the largest individual fish, which will be weighed by the organizing committee.
2-Al tibah, a special diving competition where each team nominates one member to dive and collect the largest number of oysters in one attempt
The fishing phase of the festival will take place from the 27th - the 30th of March, while the pearl-diving phase begins on the 2nd of April, and runs until the 5th.