Season of sea sincerity

CHILDREN from across the kingdom flocked to Bahrain’s shorelines during the Eid festivities to partake in a tradition that originated on the island.

Eid Al Adha is filled with prayers, animal sacrifices and family gatherings all over the world. However, in Bahrain, as well as in neighbouring Gulf states, there is another custom that brings joy during this celebratory occasion … Hiya Biya.

“Hiya Biya is an act where children participate in the same sacrificial process that adults do,” said Zainab Abduljabbar, who is a traditional weaver and basket maker. “But instead of sacrificing lambs or sheep, the children chant the ‘Hiya Biya’ song and throw a basket of plants into the sea.”

Hiya Biya is created using traditional techniques to cut, clean and then weave palm tree fronds into a basket to hold soil and plants to be discarded into the sea as sacrifice.

The wood dissolves very fast in the water, leaving the plants to move along with the waves.

Similar activities date back to the ancient Dilmun era and it is believed that the local inhabitants would throw baskets into the sea during seasons of giving and sacrifice; at times, even as a form of portraying well wishes to sailors out at sea. 

“While some participate in Hiya Biya during the first day of Eid, some also do so one day prior, and others like myself, would take part in the traditional activity on the second day of Eid,” said the 45-year-old Al Lawzi resident. “Although times have changed, Hiya Biya has, and will always be, a community effort.”

She explained how during her childhood, while her grandmother and her mother were weavers, they did not have any palm trees to work with. Instead, they would gather the needed materials from their neighbours, who in turn will then receive Hiya Biya baskets.

“It was not just the basket, we would sow our own Hiya Biya plant,” added Zainab. “We would approach nearby farms for fertilisers and would plant radish leaves (Ruwaid) or mung bean (mash) since they grow within two weeks.

“It feels different than just buying a completed one today, because you would have to work for it and as such feel more connected to the tradition. Nowadays, many families just come in to buy the Hiya Biya basket with the plants directly.

“While it is reassuring that despite the pandemic there is this immense care to carry on the tradition, especially as we ran out of stock a few days prior to Eid, children are still missing out on that complete experience of working on, making, or at least planting their own Hiya Biya.”