Pearl Diving Heritage Day
A day of remembrance for Qatar's pearl diving past, before oil transformed the nation. For centuries, pearl diving was the backbone of the Qatari economy. Divers (ghais) would descend up to 40 meters without breathing apparatus, using a nose clip (fita) and a stone weight (hajar) to reach the oyster beds. The diving season lasted from June to September, and crews of 40-60 men lived on dhows for months. Pearl divers faced shark attacks, drowning, and the bends. The best pearls came from the waters around Halul Island, and a single perfect pearl could be worth more than a year's wages. Today the pearl diving heritage is kept alive through reenactments at the Pearl Diving Festival in Katara Cultural Village, where young Qataris learn the old songs (nahma) that divers sang to keep rhythm and courage.
