Famous folklore arts

Al-haboot:

It is the manhood and gallantry art which prevails in Dhofar Governorate. It is similar to Al-razha art of northern Oman regions, but differs in the words, melody and rhythm. In the Haboot the participants queue in short columns which follow each others in well organized manner; the elders come first, followed by sheiks and the young participants who carry their weapons which consist of swords, guns and daggers. Some of the young participants advance while raising their open swords, or daggers and jump in the air as if they are announcing the advent of a motorcade.

There are several types of the Haboot which includes, cities inhabitants Hanboot, the Bedouin Haboot, the Waqif (standing) Haboot and the Najdah (rescue) Haboot in which the participants move to rescue someone who is in distress, in each Haboot there is a poet. Poets compete in reciting poems, though the Haboot poem never exceeds two verses.