No Losers as Annual Horse-Riding Tradition Draws Hundreds to Qena Village

Hundreds of horse riders gather in Al-Aliqat village in Qus, southern Qena, for an annual mermah, a traditional display of horsemanship rooted in Upper Egypt’s heritage.

The village becomes an open arena where riders demonstrate their equestrian skills, renewing a custom handed down through generations.

With its spirit of “no losers,” the gathering puts the shared celebration of horsemanship at the heart of the occasion, rather than victory or defeat.

The annual mermah keeps that inheritance visible in village life, bringing riders together around a tradition that continues to connect generations in Al-Aliqat.