Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (right), Katara General Manager and Jihad Al Jaidah, member of 7th Senyar organising committee, speaking at a press conference at Katara, yesterday.
DOHA: The longest edition of Senyar traditional pearl diving and fishing competition is all set to start next week, underlining the commitment of the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) in upholding Qatar’s rich maritime heritage.
“The aim is to preserve culture and heritage from vanishing this renaissance era, and Katara is taking responsibility to revive the culture of our ancestors,” said Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti at a press conference yesterday.
In its seventh year, the annual competition promises to be very exciting with a whole slew of enhancements when it comes to features, duration, participation and rules. “This year’s Senyar will be totally different from its past editions.
In the previous six years, the maximum duration of Senyar was one week, but this year we have extended it to nearly a month,” Jihad Al Jaidah, member of the organising committee, told The Peninsula yesterday.
“Every year, the teams have been asking us to extend the festival for them to have more time that’s why we have made it longer and we are 100 percent sure they will enjoy it,” he added.
Al Jaidah said participation had been opened not only to Qataris but also to other nationalities including GCC citizens and that there had been an increase in the number of participating teams. As per rules, each team, which has around 10 to 15 members, is allowed to have four non-Qatari members, he said.
“For instance in pearl diving competition, the number of participating teams increased from less than 10 last year to 15 this year. A total of 67 teams are taking part in the fishing competition,” he said.
More than 1,000 participants aboard 82 dhows are participating at this year’s championships which will be held in a new location which is close to Halul Island, a popular fishing site around 100km from Doha, he said. A total of QR4.3m will be awarded to winners in the various categories which include pearl diving, Haddaq and Laffah in addition to family championship.
Katara beach will start receiving the participating dhows on April 1 to allow preparations for the competitions which will kick off on April 4, the first week will see the pearl diving competition which will start on April 7, followed by fishing championship which starts on April 14.
The final week will see this year’s top ten in pearl diving and fishing competitions as well as the top five last year compete in an exciting championship which is new this year, said Al Jaidah. This April will be different for Katara Beach area as it is expected to be bustling with activities with the presence of shops.
He said participants will be accompanied by their families and children and it is a good chance for the young ones to get direct exposure on Qatar’s richest culture and heritage. “This April will be different for Katara Beach as it is expected to be bustling with activities and with shops,” said Al Jaidah.
He said that the participants will be staying on the beach and even cook their food near their boats as it was in the past, adding Qatar Red Crescent will be present throughout the championship period to ensure their safety.
