RPS The Decisive Moment - Edition 18 - January 2020

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DPOTY 2019 - Finalist - Hil Van Der Waal ARPS

Camel Ardha A camel showcasing event in Oman Hil Van Der Waal ARPS The Camel Ardha is a frequent event in the Sultanate of Oman, a peaceful country in the Middle-East. The tribal communities, mostly Bedouins, meet regularly, bringing their camels to participate in this particular race over several days. The tradition goes back centuries. The main purpose of Ardha is to showcase the beauty and strength of the Arabian camel, riding them side by side in a straight track. However, these camels don’t race but instead, the main goal is for them to run as a pair, perfectly in tandem, thus demonstrating their obedience and control by the riders. In this fast changing modern country, the Omani Government encourages that this old tradition is retained and such events held regularly, offering large prizes to the winners. This Omani tradition has recently been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

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