Manama : The competition for His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s pearl diving (Hare) race starts tomorrow morning, Friday, as part of the eighth edition of the Nasser bin Hamad maritime Marine Heritage Season.
The Hare competition takes place in the Hare Shtayyeh marine area and features a select group of amateur divers who come together again to revive one of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s oldest traditional sports, deeply rooted in the kingdom’s maritime history and national heritage.
This race follows the success of last week’s event, which was His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s race, attended by around 100 divers. The competitive atmosphere reflected Bahrainis’ passion for their maritime heritage and pride in their roots.
Before the start of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad’s race, the organising committee held a coordination meeting with all participants to review competition rules and scoring criteria. The committee also Emphasised on observing safety instructions, given the nature of the competition which involves diving with modern equipment into deep waters to collect oysters.
The top ten competitors who gather the heaviest weight of pearls inside the oysters will be awarded first place, following a careful sorting and weighing process supervised by a specialised judging panel (Tawawish). The event recreates traditional diving rituals that were once a vital source of livelihood for ancestors and a key part of Bahrain’s national identity.
The Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season is an annual platform to celebrate Bahrain’s authentic maritime traditions. It is organised by the Bahrain Inherited Traditional Sports Committee (Mawrooth) to connect youth with their history and enhance national values through a series of competitive and educational programmes that combine enjoyment and knowledge.
In addition to the Hare competition, the season includes a variety of other events such as traditional rowing races, open water swimming contests, fishing competitions, and the new sea-chanting (Nahham) contest held inside the Ministry of Information studios. This season has become a comprehensive heritage event that attracts growing public interest year after year.
