Sharjah (Al-Ittihad)
Within the “Sharjah Heritage Days”, which began on February 22 and will continue until next March 3, the story of falconry’s rise to the status of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is told, as it is an authentic local heritage element that tells an aspect of man’s relationship with the creatures surrounding him. The admiration of those concerned with the heritage and cultures of peoples went global, and was registered on UNESCO’s lists of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, and became a story passed down through generations at the global level.
In the United Arab Emirates, falcons and falconry had a story worth telling to the pioneers of Sharjah’s heritage days. Among the stories of falconry is that this profession was practiced by Bedouins in the desert of the Emirates and its surrounding areas, to hunt in order to secure food in an environment of scarce resources. However, the role of falconry in society It has changed with the change in the nature of life, so falconry has become a sport based on competition and fun, not on hunting and food. Falcons have received many interesting stories and anecdotes between generations, and they are among the birds beloved by everyone, young and old.
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Talwah
There are basic requirements that falconers must have to care for the falcon, and they have been placed on display in front of the public to clearly identify them, including: the “den”, which is what the falcon lands on to rest or settle. On top of its circular base, which rises slightly from the ground, is what resembles earth’s grasses to give… The falcon is a thing of reassurance and stability, and there is the “dass,” which is a leather cuff worn by falconers for falcons to land on and protect their hands from their sharp claws.
Likewise, there is the “burqa,” which is a piece of leather placed on the falcon’s head to cover its eyes. It has many purposes, including training, taming, and making it feel reassured. It is not an ordinary cover, but rather its size must be taken into account. It should not be too narrow to harm it, nor too wide to reveal its eyes and harm it. Himself and those around it, and there is “Al-Tilwah”, which is a model made in the shape of a bird to train falcons to hunt. It is shaped like the wings of bustard birds, and is tied to a rope so that it can be waved in the air, which attracts the falcon’s attention to pounce on the prey.
The reality confirms that the relationship of the Arab and Emirati people with falcons goes back to ancient times, and extends to thousands of years, and there are close ties between them, as the falcon was the ally of man, comforted by its proximity, seeking its help in hunting, and having fun with it in its seriousness and amusement, and transmitting this through its generations in uninterrupted loyalty. To this day, this loyalty has been immortalized by being placed on the UNESCO list.
It is noteworthy that the United Arab Emirates succeeded, from 2010 until 2023, in registering 15 elements on UNESCO’s lists of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These registered files included elements: “falconry, camel racing, al-Ayyala, al-Razfa, Arab councils, and al-Taghrouda.” , Al-Sadu, Al-Azi, Al-Tali, camel shoe, Arabic coffee, palm tree, falaj, Arabic calligraphy, and Al-Harees.”
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