The city of Sohar is one of the largest in Oman, and holds many of the practices that the rest of Oman has. Here are some Sohar Festivals.

Sinbad Classic

With Sohar being the rumored birthplace to the sailor Sinbad, it is no wonder that there will be festivities every year to celebrate the birth of the legend that has become somewhat of a national icon. The Sinbad Classic is one of the large events that takes place in Oman, particularly in Sohar. An international deep sea fishing competition, the event is one of the World Championship qualifying rounds, and attracts fishermen from all over the world to take part. The event generally runs in late April to early May, and attracts a great deal of hype among the local people. In Sohar, there are opportunities to watch the fishermen in action, just like any other international sporting event.

Eid ul-Fitr

The Eid ul-Fitr is a large festival on the Muslim calendar, and is especially widely celebrated throughout Oman, with 75% of its population being Muslim. Sohar is no exception, and the festivities often take to the streets in a riot of color, smells and music, accompanied sometimes by dancing. The festival is, in itself, the most important one on the Muslim calendar, marking the end of Ramadan. The mornings are marked by prayers which can be heard throughout the country via loudspeakers on the mosque minarets, and people are seen flocking to the mosques dressed in their best. The afternoons are a communal time of gathering, talking and feasting, and it is a great time for tourists to experience the true spirit of the people of Oman. Be sure to taste the honeyed dates during this period, as they are in season and are a real treat to eat.

Eid ul-Adha

The other important festival on the Muslim calendar and widely observed is that of Eid ul-Adha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice. This is usually during the months of November or December, depending on the lunar calendar, and is usually marked with the Hajj, where the people go to Mecca on a holy pilgrimage. However, not all make the pilgrimage and those who are unable to, bring the festival to the streets of Sohar. Once again, the mornings are marked by prayers, and the atmosphere in the air throughout the day is generally more solemn than normal. By the afternoon, visitors can witness the sacrifice in action - a lamb being slaughtered after being prayed upon, representing Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God. The meat is then shared out, giving the practice a communal component to the festival.