Camel 'beauty contest' starts in UAE
Camel owners from across the Gulf region gathered at Zayed City in Abu Dhabi for the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival 2008 that includes camel 'beauty contest'. Apart from the camel shows, the festival would also showcase Bedouin traditions and folklore.
Camel owners from across the Gulf region gathered at Zayed City in Abu Dhabi for an eight-day traditional camel 'beauty contest', WAM news agency reported on Thursday.
The Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival 2008 is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
The contest would be split between Asayel (pedigree) camels and Majahim (dark-skinned) camels. Only pure bred camels free from any contagious disease are allowed to participate in the contest.
Apart from the camel shows, the festival would also showcase Bedouin traditions and folklore.
ADACH Director-General Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei said his agency was guided in its mission by the famous words of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: "He who has no past has no present".
"One of the top priorities of ADACH is to strengthen links between the generation of today with the rich past of their forefathers," he added.