Muscat, In many of the Sultanate’s wilayats, open
markets (locally known as Habta) are organized to display the various
commodities people need during Eid, including the sale of livestock in
what’s called Habta markets.
Eid Habta Markets are traditional heritage and among the customs
that are awaited by the citizens in the Sultanate. They are traditional
markets that are held on the occasion of the Eid on open spaces of
land or under the shade of palm trees, mangoes and Ghaf or near the
castles and forts. Habta markets witness a high turnout of citizens,
residents and tourists.
The Habta markets in all governorates and wilayats begin 10 days
before the Eid and continue until the day before the Eid.
The Eid Habta markets in the various governorates of the Sultanate
begin from 24th to 29th of the holy month of Ramadan, initiated in the
wilayats of Wadi Bani Khalid and Ibra in the Governorate of North
A’Sharqiya, the Wilayat of Bausher in the Governorate of Muscat and in
Fanja in the Wilayat of Bidbid in the Governorate of A’Dakhliya. Four
consecutive Habta Markets are held in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid.
They started in the village of Khalidiya, followed by Habta markets in
Omq, Souq Al Masaliha and Al Hawariya and continue until 27th of
Ramadan.
Al Thabti village in the Wilayat of Ibra starts with the first of the three
Habta markets held in the wilayat, followed by Al Yahmadi on 25th
Ramadan and Al Safala on 26th Ramadan. The Habta Markets of
Wilayat of Al Hamra and Nafaa in the Wilayat of Bidbid are also held on
the 25th of Ramadan.
On 26th of Ramadan, the Habta Markets are held in the Wilayats of
A’Rustaq, Samail (Suroor), Sur, Wadi al Maawail, Bidiya, Al Khabourah,
and al Mintarab in the Wilayat of Bidiya. On 27th of Ramadan, the
Habta Markets are held in the Wilayats of Jalan Bani Bu Ali, A’Suwaiq,
Bahla, Barka, Jalan Bani Bu Hassan, Nakhal, A’Seeb, and the village
of Al Wasel in the Wilayat of Al Qabil. On 28th of Ramadan, the Habta
Market are held in the Wilayats of al-Kamil, al-Wafi and al-Qabil.
There is a fixed timing for most of the Sultanate’s Habta markets,
from sunrise to 11 am and sometimes to 1 pm.
Many people flock to the nearby wilayats to look for better meat, or
to enjoy the atmosphere associated with Habta Markets such as calling
to sell sheep, cows and camels at auction.
The joy of Eid Habta Markets is the first joy of Omanis for Eid Al
Fitr, especially children who are keen to attend, wearing the most
beautiful clothes they have. The Habta Markets meet the needs of
mother and child together, and provide many goods and commodities
of toys and ready clothes in addition to the foodstuff to prepare many
traditional Omani dishes and “barbecue” items.
These Habta Markets are also an opportunity for breeders to sell
their livestock at good prices, where many citizens are keen to buy
small livestock known as (Mawalid) to be used in the traditional Omani
meal known as (Al Ursiya), a meal usually eaten before going to the
Eid prayer, consisting of rice and meat in addition to local ghee.
The Eid Habta Markets witness a strong footfall since the early hours
of the morning and people from various villages in the wilayat and
neighboring wilayats come to visit it.
Source: Oman News Agency