Riyadh: It made for an unusual sight as camels strut down a red carpet just like models.
People in Rimah, the vast area northwest of Riyadh, are used to seeing camels roaming across the sandy expanses oblivious to the intense sun, but they were pleasantly surprised at the orderly rows of camels vying for top honours at the first ever King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival, which sought to highlight the grace and beauty of the Arabian Peninsula’s most coveted animal. The month-long event wrapped up this week.
On the red carpet, the shortlisted camels trot by in all their pomp as the judges scrutinised them closely before assigning scores.
In Rimah, camels are treated more like family than as animals. To the people of the region, camels are at the core of their life as they know it. The festival endorses this view, choosing as its slogan ‘Camels are Civilisation.’
A short distance away, fans seated on benches in the Beauty Camel Square, kept a close eye on the proceedings as their favourite camels passed by.
The fans sang, shouted and screamed, some men waving their agal — the black cord used to fasten their headdress — in their hands as they jumped in excitement.
One might have thought it was some sporting event until the camels pass by.
A designated stand for women was less crowded and more subdued. But the women said they were as much connected to the animals as their male counterparts.
“I am here because some of my father’s camels are participating. I love camels,” a female spectator said.
But just how does one judge the ‘perfect’ camel?
Judges, speaking to Gulf News, say they mainly look at breed and age.
There are group competitions as well as individual events.
In total, around 270 awards were handed out during the festival and around 114.6 million Saudi riyals distributed among winners.
Rigorous tests
Around 30,256 camels were entered by 1,436 owners in various competitions, organisers told Gulf News.
While most of the competitors were Saudi-owned, the event attracted a few hundred camel owners from Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE as well.
The participating camels undergo rigorous tests by the health and agriculture ministries to ensure they are free of disease. Aside from the competitions, educational seminars are also held highlighting the importance of camels in a historical context.
Two young men explained how camels are prominently mentioned in the Quran and in the sayings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). They also explained how camel owners assign different names to their camels as they grow older — a sign of respect and admiration.
They explained other interesting facts about camels like their life span of up to 25 years and that they can spend one week without drinking water. They are clever and can guide you when you are lost and they are docile, friendly creatures.
A section of the festival was also dedicated to art, with paintings of camels being entered for a competition.
Talal Al Torifi, a historian with tremendous expertise in Bedouin practices, addressed vistors amid black and white photographs of camels in the early 20th century. As he discussed the history of camels in the region, his passion and enthusiam was contagious. “In 1999, local Bedouins started staging camel beauty contests in Rimah, a crossing point of three routes,” he recalled.
“Thanks to support from the Saudi royal family, it has expanded into a broader heritage exhibition covering 30 square km of the Al Dahna desert.”
What is in a name?
Depending on the age, a camel’s name changes:
Al Huwar: six months
Al Makhlool: one year
Al Mafrood: two years
Al Laqi: two–three years
Al Haq: thre–four years
Al Jivaa: four–five years
Al Thani: five–six years
Al Ruba: six–seven years
Al Sudais: seven–eight years
