SALALAH: On Saturday Dhofar Governorate welcomed the astronomical spring season, or as it is locally called ‘Sarb’, which affects the coastal areas of the governorate from Dhalkut in the west to Mirbat in the east, and continues until December 21.
The ‘Sarb’ season is one of the most beautiful natural seasons in Dhofar Governorate, as it comes after the khareef with the weather changing from humid to a more moderate climate.
The Sarb season has a positive impact on economic activity in the governorate due to the increased influx of visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature and various activities.
Economic activities flourish among farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders. This is due to the seasonal agricultural harvest in the mountainous and plain areas that depend on seasonal autumn rains, including corn, local beans, and cucumbers. This is in addition to the increased production of honey and the availability of large quantities of surface and bottom fish with high nutritional value, most notably sharka, kanaad fish, sardines, safi and shaari.
The ‘Sarb’ season is characterised by spring grazing (Khateel Al Ibil), which begins in late September. Camel owners in the mountains of Dhofar Governorate are keen to move their camels in groups from the plains or areas behind the mountains (Al Qatn) to the pastures that are closed at the beginning of the autumn season, chanting several traditional songs and poetic verses, accompanied by some inherited social customs.
The Sarb season in Dhofar Governorate has distinctive characteristics such as increased production of meat and honey, in addition to dairy products and their derivatives, most notably butter (Qatmim) and local ghee (Mishah), because of the abundance of green pastures for livestock in the plains, plateaus, and mountains.
Among the most prominent tourist destinations in the Sarb season are the mountainous areas that receive a great turnout from visitors and tourists due to their picturesque nature, moderate climate, wide, extended plains, and the spread of trees that citizens and residents visit to seek shade and spend beautiful times in the embrace of the picturesque nature.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) organised joint sessions between tourism sector partners in the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia as part of the ‘Marhaba Dhofar’ event, which saw the participation of more than 40 tourism companies and 13 media professionals.
The Ministry also organised the ‘Dhofar Path 2024’ event, a photography tourism forum that hosted a group of professional photographers from the Sultanate of Oman and the GCC to provide an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Dhofar during the Sarb season with its bright colours and stunning scenery.
The Ministry is preparing to launch the third edition of the Frankincense Season events in December to introduce the frankincense sites listed on the Unesco World Heritage List.
Dhofar Municipality is also organising many events during this year’s Sarab season that attract visitors and tourists, including the Dhofar Municipality Championship ‘Ironman 70.3’, as well as the Dhofar Municipality Championship ‘Salalah Half Marathon’, in addition to the ‘Dhofar Municipality She Runs’ ‘Iron Child’.
These sporting events will be held over two weeks in October, with each event featuring its programme that targets different categories and serves the community in multiple ways. The municipality will also organise the Dhofar International Theatre Festival in early October, with the participation of local and international theatre groups in various fields of theatre and arts. - ONA
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