The pavilion of ministries and official authorities participating in the 4th Katara Traditional Dhow Festival are receiving record turnout from visitors and guests, thereby demonstrating the official interest in marine legacy that constitutes an inveterate part of Qatar's culture and patrimony and strengthens the pride in the life of fathers and forebears in the past, along with inveterate traditions it abounds regarding the sea life.
The pavilions enable the visitors to have a glimpse of the civilisational legacy of constructing wooden boats that were used by forefathers in their pursuit of livelihoods and to earn a living, in the era before the discovery of oil and gas.
Head of the wooden boats department at the Private Engineering Office and supervisor of the department's pavilion, Hussein Marzouk al-Abdullah, said the pavilion showcases distinguished models of traditional ships, their names and parts that are made and maintained in the regions of Al Ruwais, Al Wakrah, and Al Khor, noting that the department engages in manufacturing and maintaining many traditional boats based on sizes and designs of ancient heritage models in the office's workshops, in pursuit of preserving the wooden boat industry and nurturing a legacy when these boats were used for diving, fishing, travel, and trade.
He highlighted that the miniature models showcased at the pavilion aim to familiarise visitors with this industry, as well as the tools utilised in its construction, and their various names, such as the Qallaf (shipwright's tools), adding that each ship has a different name and size, depending on its use, whether for trade, travel, fishing, or pearl diving.
A plethora of these ships include Sanbok, Jalboot, Boom, Baghlah, Batil, Baqarah, along with small traditional boats that were used to transport sailors from the shore to the open sea, as well as to carry dates, water, rice, and supplies needed by sailors during their journeys.
Lolwa Abdullah Al Sharshani, supervisor of the Ministry of Municipality's Pavilion at the festival said that the pavilion showcases miniature models of traditional boats and vessels that were used in the past for fishing, pearl diving, trade, and travel to other countries, such as the Sanbok, which is used for fishing, and the Boom, for pearl diving.
