Abu El Kom Saan

'Bada bookara' or after tomorrow, is the feast of 'Abu El Kom Saan'

Traditionally this takes place after the Moulid of Abu El Hagag and before the Holy month of Ramadan.

Starting in the village of Kom, South West of Luxor, the dancing horses begin their, what can now be classed as a controversial, display of male egos controlling their stallions, not by skill, but by whipping. Antiquated 'Baladi' bits and stirrups, cause dreadful injuries, but proclaim a Master, a skillful horseman.

3 days before, the childrens rides started to arrive by truck. Set at the foot of the Assassif tombs, the talk already had started about the great Moulid on the West Bank.
Food stalls selling felafel, fuul, peanuts and halawa (Sweets) had begun to appear. Children rushed to spend their 1le on a ride or two.

Steel boats as swings, painted in the Egyptian Flag colours of red, white and black, carried children trying to swing full circle.

Dodgem cars and rifle shooting, space ship merry go rounds...all had seen better days. The paint and bodywork was as battered as I remembered from last year. Only the odd bright and colourful painting on some of the rides, gave a new lease of life to the children of Qorna, who were eager to hand over their money and have the ride of their life.

This mother and her son, were waiting for their turn on a ride.