Shimmering golden grasses mark the start of camel grazing season

Energy Saturday 09/November/2019 20:14 PM
By: Times News Service
Shimmering golden grasses mark the start of camel grazing season

Salalah: The villagers in the suburbs of the Governorate of Dhofar wait for the spring season (locally called Al Sirb) where the pastures are varied and full of trees and grasses grow after the rainy Khareef season. The scene of the mountains is very beautiful.
Governorate of Dhofar has mountain chains that are unique in terrain, hit by monsoon winds blowing with its rain, drizzle and gentle fog. The slopes, plains and valleys become green gardens that delight the viewers with their bright greenery.
When the spring sun shines, these trees and grasses acquire a shimmering golden colour to mark the start of the camel spring grazing season (locally called Khateel al Ebil), where the camel owners in the Dhofar mountains prepare for the various rituals of the season, taking their herds to the grazing areas that were closed at the beginning of Khareef. They are shared by lovers of these rituals from different regions of the Governorate of Dhofar, who accompany the camels when they arrive for their pastures, chanting some Dhofari heritage arts, such as “Habbout” and other traditional arts.
Like other Wilayats of Dhofar, Rakhyut is celebrating this season, where camels let loose to graze in nature among these green plains. Rakhyut has the highest number of spring grazing sites in the Governorate of Dhofar, amounting to more than thirty sites, accompanied by advance preparation, including the stables for the camels, and expansion of grazing paths affected by the rain.
The ‘’Hijailan’’ grazing site is one of the most important sites of spring grazing due to the traditional rituals, and the presence of visitors to enjoy this wonderful atmosphere, where fireplaces are lit at night, the place gets quite, and the sounds of camels rise as their teeth click while eating, sometimes a voice of chanter or singer is heard singing the sweetest melodies of Omani heritage. Camel milk is served cold to the guests, as most of them prefer like this, boiled on fire or by putting few stones on the fire and then placed in the milk pot until it boils.
The grazing period at ‘’Hijailan’’ grazing site lasts for about a month until all the grasses and trees are dry and it becomes difficult for the camels to climb to the grazing areas where they cannot stand on these herbs, which may put them at risk of falling, leaving the area for the cows to graze on all winter.
The spring grazing season is a recreation and self-purification of the pressures of life as some employees take holidays during this season to enjoy the beautiful moments that combine wild life and nature.