The Iranian Lenj is a traditional vessel built by hand that is used for sea journeys, trading, fishing, and pearl diving.
This Iranian skills-building boat is practiced by inhabitants of the Persian Gulf's northern coast, which is used to be that the lord of the sea had dominance over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman as well as the Indian Ocean.
Formerly known as “jahāz” in the Persian Gulf. The other form in English is launch or Lanj, or more commonly Lenj, which is a big boat powered by an engine, without sails. The lenj is used for a number of purposes, including transportation, fishing, diving, and searching for pearls.
Lenj reminds people in the region of its strong and safe long-distance travel. The ancient Achaemenides transported Iranians from Persia to the Roman Empire with their primitive form, and in more recent centuries, Lenjes have transported Iranians to far-flung destinations including Zanzibar in Africa and Kolkata in India.
This Iranian boat navigators could find the ship based on the positions of the sun, moon, and stars. They calculated latitudes and longitudes using formulas, including water depth. Each wind was designated a name, which helped them predict the weather along with the color of the water or the height of the waves. Usually, during sailing in the Persian Gulf, sailors sang specific songs while working.
Traditional knowledge about Lenjes includes oral literature, festivals, and sailing and navigation techniques related to sailing, as well as terms and skills associated with weather forecasting and wooden boat-building that are closely associated with sailing, including the traditional navigation of Lenjes, which is traditionally handed down from father to son.
Today, the community of practitioners is fewer and mainly composed of older people, fiberglass is replacing higher-priced wooden Lenjes, and construction workshops for Lenjes are being transformed into repair shops for older models. It has been disappointing to see that the cultural heritage of Lenjs has been neglected.
Even though philosophies, rituals, cultures, and traditional knowledge related to sailing in the Persian Gulf are slowly fading, as of today, some of the associated ceremonies still continue to be practiced locally. However, In 2019, a group of concerned Iranians acquired the Lenj Babooboom (one of the oldest and last living Captains of the Persian Gulf) for the purpose of reviving Lenj sailing traditions. Hopefully, it can be a forward step in reviving and contributing to more sustainable tourism, both national and international.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/traditional-skills-of-building-and-sailing-iranian-lenj-boats-in-the-persian-gulf-00534) (https://nomad.tours/other/26440/iranian-lenj-boats-in-the-persian-gulf-an-intangible-heritage/) (https://www.tasteiran.net/stories/10056/lenj-bulding-boats)