Grand maritime festival comes to an end at Katara

The Katara 7th Traditional Dhow Festival concluded yesterday following five days of festivities.
Organised by Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation, the grand annual event is held with the aim of showcasing rich maritime traditions and preserving their cultural identity, Katara said in a press statement.
The festival was held over five days and the participants hailed from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Turkey, India, Greece and Zanzibar. Their pavilions featured food, handicrafts, documentaries and even mini-museums that reflected their unique maritime heritage, the statement noted.
The event drew a large number of people from various nationalities and walks of life. The visitors lauded the event and stressed its importance in highlighting the country’s marine heritage.
A Qatari national, who was visiting the festival with his family, said: “This is a great opportunity for me to visit, along with the children, a well-organised event that features traditional dhows and all aspects related to our marine heritage. It is very important for the younger generation to grow up seeing this rich maritime tradition displayed in such an ambiance. I urge all families to be keen about visiting Katara’s Traditional Dhow Festival as it is beneficial and entertaining for all family members.” An expatriate visitor said, “The festival is very educative as it displays the traditional dhow names that were used in the past and demonstrates the maritime culture at its best.”
Besides nationals and expatriates, the festival also saw a number of visitors from regional countries such as Kuwait.
“This is a wonderful ambiance and we are truly thrilled to be here in Qatar just to witness this festival, which successfully blends the past with the present and showcases the traditions with a modern touch. Well done, Katara, for this tremendous success,” said one of them.
The festival also featured daily competitions such as the traditional dhow race and the pearl-diving contest.
Other attractions included Haddaq Al Seif, ‘Preparing the Dhow and Dhow Lifting’, Al Ghazl, the dhow exhibition, traditional performances and crafts, a fish market, dhow cruises, a traditional cafe and an operetta.