Ancient Traditional Fishing Competition Captivates Qatar Locals Again
On the shores of Doha, a vibrant festival unfolds, with the colorful spectacle of wooden dhow boats adorning a pier, characteristically lined with fresh catch - a magnificent celebration aimed at rekindling Qatar's ancient maritime traditions.
Step aboard these boats, and you'll find men clad in traditional sea attire - a white t-shirt and towel - paying homage to the centuries-old practice of line-fishing in the oil-rich Gulf emirate. Witness the excitement of the 11th Senyar Festival, an annual event held in Katara Cultural Village - a crucial hub for arts and heritage preservation in Doha.
Competitor Mohammed al-Hail expressed the thrill of his return from four days out at sea, greeted by awaiting friends and family, upon the festival's conclusion. "The feeling was phenomenal," he said, "And as we finished, we caught glimpses of friends here and there."
Close by, children, proudly attired in traditional white thobes, enthusiastically measured themselves against three gargantuan fish, arranged for the eager gaze of the spectators. These impressive specimens, each weighing approximately 10kg, were the largest catch of the week-long competition.
This year, an impressive number of contestants - 54 teams - congregated to fish using simple handheld lines, living for extended periods on the wooden boats that traversed the Gulf waters around Qatar for centuries. The victors are rewarded for the size of their catch, but the coveted prize lies in the number, quality, and variety of fish caught using a points-based system that prioritizes hamour and kingfish over other local varieties.
Revisiting the days of yore when pearl-diving and fishing dominated Qatar's economy, Qataris like Hail and his teammate Mohammed al-Mohannadi are determined to upkeep this heritage's essence. "I'm elated, but I'm not entirely satisfied with my results," Mohannadi admitted. "But with the grace of Allah, in the upcoming competitions, we'll have a superb outcome."
Four days prior, a mosaic of boats could be seen scattered across the azure Gulf waters, situated approximately 5km from the desert sands south of the Qatari capital. Aboard the boat Lusail, Yousuf al-Mutawa elucidated his team's strategy for deploying fishing lines during a mid-morning lull in the winds. "When the wind decreases, the large fish rise," said Mutawa, whose team of 12 had participated in the competition for the second consecutive year.
The 55-year-old shared that his father was a trader on a small wooden dhow until the 1940s, navigating between Qatar and Kuwait. "We took some food there, and brought it here," said Mutawa. Ultimately, the boat was wrecked in strong winds, leading his father to secure employment in Qatar's burgeoning oil industry.
Mutawa proudly shared that his sons had participated in previous competitions and hoped they would partake again. Ali Almulla, a Dubai real estate manager, had come from the United Arab Emirates to join the Lusail team for a second year. "I arrived to participate in our traditional maritime activities," he shared. "It's fun for us. The camaraderie is fantastic."
Almulla explained that his family had a seafaring background dating back several generations. "We inherited this from our father, and our grandfather, and so on," he said. Interestingly, his grandfather actually dove for pearls, a practice that once flourished across the Gulf region. Almulla partakes in fishing competitions around the Gulf, some employing modern techniques and others, such as the Senyar Festival, emphasizing traditional methods.
"Winning is enjoyable, but we're here to enjoy," he added. The Senyar Festival's significance lies not only in cultivating a connection with the sea but also in preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Qatar's maritime past.
In the heart of Katara Cultural Village, homes, gardens, and lifestyles transform for the duration of the 11th Senyar Festival, reflecting Qatar's traditional maritime heritage. Beyond the festival's displays of exotic fishing catches, homespun tales of seafaring adventures are shared, keeping the home-and-garden of Qatar's maritime legacy intact.
