ADACH organises Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival

posted on 06/02/2008: 50 views

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) started its preparations for the 'Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival'. The festival is dedicated to special shows for 'Asayel' (pedigree) and 'Majahim' (dark-skinned) camels as part of ADACH efforts to promote local folklore through cultural events in Abu Dhabi. The festival, which will take place during the first week of April (2nd-5th) in Zayed City in the Western Province, includes a rare 'camel beauty contest' and other activities and shows. The committee for the festival, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Representative of the Ruler at the Western Province, has set up teams that will work on the necessary preparations for the event.

The event, which is sponsored by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, will be divided into two parts: one will focus on 'Asayel' camels; the other will be devoted to 'Majahim' ones. The participating camels are required to be of a purebred origin and free of any contagious disease or serious defects. The camels would be divided into age groups and owners can participate with more than one camel as long as they prove the ownership of those camels.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed praised the status camels held in traditional Arab life. "Although the camel has always been a companion to the Arab during his travel in the old days, today camels still play a part in our lives, as thousands of people continue to attend camel races and watch what is perceived as part of our heritage," he emphasized.

Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director General of ADACH, and deputy-head of the festival's committee sees the event as a symbol of the significance that camels enjoy in Arab culture. "We hope that this event would become an annual one so we preserve that part of our heritage," Mazrouei said, adding that the festival would become a gathering to revive the folklore sports that Abu Dhabi prides itself in. "Camels have been part of Arab cultural, social and economic life. By organizing this festival, we aim to make it as a big regional event, especially after the success of the first camel auction that was held in the last International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2007 and the achievements of the Centre for Camel's Research to improve the original feature of purebred camels," he added.- Emirates News Agency, WAM

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