Within the deserts of northern Qatar, youngsters with a falcon perched on gloves on their left arms showcase their looking birds in a bid to protect an age-old custom. These “Little Falconers” have gathered in a tent forward of the soccer World Cup within the gas-rich Gulf emirate, in a bid to introduce guests to a observe inherited from their forefathers. Falconry was added to the UNESCO record of intangible cultural heritage in 2010, in international locations together with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
“That is my first participation within the competitors,” says 11-year-old Breik al-Marri, wearing flowing white robes beside his falcon Gasham, a leather-based hood obstructing the hen’s view.
“I really like Gasham and I care for him,” Marri stated, sliding his left arm right into a thick leather-based gauntlet to guard him from the raptor’s sharp talons.
“Initially a way of acquiring meals, falconry… has been built-in into communities as a social and leisure observe and as a means of connecting with nature,” the tradition company stated.
‘Power of dedication’
“I discovered this sport from my grandfathers, father and uncles,” stated Marri. “I discovered from them the power of dedication and care for the falcon.”
Marri explains that the hood helps preserve the hen of prey calm. As quickly because the falcon regains sight, he says, the behaviour modifications.
“As soon as, my brother got here whereas the falcon did not have the hood on, and he tried to pet the hen, however the falcon bit him,” he stated. “The falcon was scared!”
Marri just lately participated with a dozen others within the “Promising Falconers” contest for 11-15 12 months olds.
The competition sees every younger falconer select the right second to launch their hen with a view to snatch their prey, a lure waved about 200 metres (about 650 ft) away.
The winner of the competition is the falconer whose hen captures the prey the quickest.
‘Lovely sport’
Additionally collaborating within the contest was 15-year-old Saeed al-Jamila, who named his falcon Hayya — after the particular fan passes for the FIFA World Cup, which runs from November 20 to December 18.
Expressing pleasure on the multiple million followers anticipated to descend on his small nation for the match, he hopes to ship a message encouraging them to strive falconry themselves.
“They need to strive it, they will not lose something,” he stated. “It is a wonderful sport.”
However whereas pleasure abounded for the younger falconers on this division, it was undoubtedly the “Little Falconers” aged six to 10 who stole the present.
One after the other, they trailed out in a row, every holding a looking bag, whereas on their proper arm they balanced the birds whose claws have been greater than the youngsters’s fingers.
Eight-year-old Hamad al-Nuaimi stepped out in entrance of the panel of judges, who started questioning on looking instruments, their makes use of and properties.
At one level, Nuaimi stumbled for a response to one of many questions, solely to be helped alongside by one of many judges.
The aim of the competition is to “protect our heritage and that of our forefathers. We’re passing this heritage to this era,” says panel member Saad al-Muhannadi.
The little falconers are then examined on their means to correctly take away the birds’ hoods, then to efficiently place them from their arm to a perch, securing their ft utilizing a particular knot.
“Looking teaches a person perseverance and self-reliance,” stated Muhannadi, because the robust scent of espresso wafted from close by.
He hoped that the internet hosting of the World Cup would grant Qatar the chance to “unfold our tradition and nationwide identification”.
Falconry “is an historical sport, whether or not in Qatar or different Gulf international locations, it’s an genuine sport,” he stated.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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