Qatari sailors wave goodbye as they head towards Fath Al Kheir which will take them on a month-long journey to Oman and Kuwait and back.
The traditional ‘Dasha’ ceremony, held in the olden days when pearl divers ventured out on the sea, yesterday marked a nostalgic send-off to Qatari sailors taking part in the third Fath Al Kheir voyage heading to Oman and Kuwait.
Qatari maritime folk songs, which echoed along the shores of Katara Beach, brought nostalgia to Qatari elders and visitors of the seventh Katara Traditional Dhow Festival as the 16 sailors led by Captain Mohamed Youssef Al-Sada and Abdullah Al-Tamimi bade goodbye to officials and their loved ones before they embarked on their month-long journey.
As soon as the crew boarded the dhow, they hoisted the mainsail which bore the Tamim Al Majd image and began their voyage which would take them to Oman and Kuwait then back to Katara in time for the National Day celebrations on December 18.
Minister of Energy and Industry H E Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, Cultural Adviser to the Emiri Diwan H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari and Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti were joined by Qatari elders and the crew’s relatives during the ceremony witnessed by festival visitors from all walks of life.
The voyage has been a biennial event conducted as a highlight of Katara Traditional Dhow Festival. It aims to revive the ancient seafaring heritage Qatar shares with other countries in the region as well as promote values such as hard work, patience and resilience among the new generation.
The members of the crew were selected from aspirants who underwent medical and physical tests to assess their ability to withstand the challenges of the long journey.
One of the largest traditional dhows in the country, Fath Al Kheir was built for the then Emir in 1983 by Amireya workshop to promote tourism trips of the Ministry of Information and Tourism. The 45-metre long dhow is now part of the collection of Qatar Museums.
Fath Al Kheir first sailed in 2013 as a highlight of the festival carrying 40 crew members. It embarked on a 27-day journey around GCC. It was followed by a 48-day journey to Oman and India two years ago with 26 crew members on board.
Meanwhile, the festival concludes today and has among its features 85 dhows and 47 handicraft and food stalls from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Turkey, India, Greece, Zanzibar and Iran.
Traditional maritime competitions and performances from various traditional bands from the participating countries are among the other attractions at the five-day festival which has seen thousands of visitors.
