Doha
Katara - the Cultural Village on Saturday celebrated the arrival of Fath Al Khair 2 at Mumbai, India.
The dhow, which docked in front of the Gateway of India, was welcomed by a number of dignitaries and officials as traditional Indian music played in the background.
The voyage was launched from Doha’s Katara beach on October 5. The dhow, which has a 30-member crew comprising experienced sailors, dhow repairers, cooks and technicians, docked at Sur port, Oman, prior to its arrival to Mumbai.
In Mumbai, the dhow was received by Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and Qatar’s Ambassador to India Ahmed Ibrahim al-Abdullah along with Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao and Qatar’s consul-general Hamad bin Mohamed al-Dosari. Representatives of diplomatic missions were also present.
Addressing attendees at Taj Mahal hotel, Dr al-Sulaiti said: “We are delighted to be here in Mumbai, India, with which we have historic ties at all levels. Today, Katara summons the beautiful history once again through this remarkable voyage.”
Recalling the warm welcome Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Jassim al-Thani received when he visited India in 1958, Dr al-Sulaiti stressed the efforts of Katara in bringing nations and cultures together and the importance of the voyage.
He thanked the Indian government for its support and everyone else who contributed to the success of the voyage, especially al-Abdullah, al-Dosari and Indian Ambassador in Qatar Sanjiv Arora. He also lauded the crew of the Fath Al Khair dhow.
Al-Abdullah said: “As we are welcoming Fath Al Khair, we recall the history of our ancestors and their suffering in pursuing their livelihood. Again, this voyage is an illustration of the strong Qatari-Indian ties.”
Al-Dosari added: “The importance of the Fath Al Khair 2 voyage stems from its relevancy to the pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 in preserving Qatari heritage and traditions. This voyage will be a reference for the upcoming generations.”
On his part, Rao lauded the strong historical ties between Qatar and India, which he noted were developing significantly at all levels. “The Fath Al Khair 2 voyage to India is a culmination of the strong and friendly relations between India and Qatar.”
The shipmaster, Hasan Essa al-Kabbi, said the voyage from Sur port to India took seven days and the dhow would leave India in a few days and sail to Doha to witness the launch of Katara’s Traditional Dhow Festival.
