The Art of Al Maydan

It is the art of evening entertainment, poetry and play on Arabic words in a well-crafted poetic mould. It enjoys wide fame among most Omanis in most wilayas of the Sultanate, except the governorates of Dhofar and Musandam. The Maydan is held on many occasions, including: weddings (marriage celebrations) and circumcisions (for boys), and may be held for entertainment and evening company. The art of the Maydan is performed in movements (adwar): the prayer movement, the sunna movement, the salam movement, and the ghubashi movement — the zaffa, which is of two kinds: the ordinary zaffa and the zaffat al dhabbah. The percussion instruments used in the Maydan are the standing drum, the rahmani drum, the kasir, and the jam or bargham.