A wide range of events and special attractions have been lined up for the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which begin in Qatar on Wednesday.
Preparations for the festivities have been under way for the past several days, with organisers giving final touches to the events and the country's residents thronging malls and hypermarkets to buy gifts and goodies.
The day that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan will start with Eid prayers at 5.03am, as announced by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf). The ministry has prepared 298 mosques and grounds, including 35 mosques and places reserved for women, in different parts of the country for the Eid al-Fitr prayers.
With the Qatar Met department forecasting a maximum temperature of 46C in Doha, the first day of Eid is also expected to be very hot.
Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has charted out a programme consisting an array of activities in collaboration with partners in the public and private sectors for the day. The celebrations will be held under the theme "Capture Joy" and offer a variety of entertainment options at venues across Qatar, including sport organisations, malls and cultural landmarks.
Malls where Eid celebrations will take place under this initiative are Al Khor Mall, City Center Doha, Dar Al Salam, Ezdan Mall, Hyatt Plaza and Lagoona Mall, which will all host family entertainment shows.
Other venues that will hold Eid festivities and activities as part of QTA's celebrations are Katara - the Cultural Village, Aspire Zone, The Pearl - Qatar, Aqua Park, Qatar National Theatre, Souq Waqif (Al Rayyan Theatre), Al Dosari Zoo and Game Reserve (from Day 2), Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, Al Samriya Equestrian Academy and Sealine Beach.
Meanwhile, the Asian Town Cricket Stadium will be the venue for the final match of the Ibn Ajayan Trophy T20 Cricket Tournament Wednesday evening.
A variety of musical and cultural shows will also be held as part of this year’s "Communities Eid al-Fitr 2016 Celebrations".
The Indian, Sri Lankan, Nepalese and Korean communities will be holding their shows beside the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha’s Industrial Area on the first two days of Eid.
Al Wakrah Sports Club will host activities of the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities on the first day .
Eid will also be celebrated at the Barwa Workers' Sports Complex, Al Khor industrial area, as part of this initiative.
A large number of people have been visiting hypermarkets and malls for the past few days for Eid shopping. The rush was particularly heavy yesterday for last minute purchasing by the residents. Many expatriates also flocked to exchange houses to send money back home, while others formed long queues in front of ATMs.
Traffic congestion was seen along some thoroughfares, leading to the parking lots of hypermarkets yesterday due to the rush.
As reported in Gulf Times earlier this week, the police will intensify security patrols in residential areas, public places and commercial centres during the Eid and summer holidays to ensure that no untoward incidents and unlawful activities take place.
Special advisories have also been issued by the authorities concerned to ensure safe and hassle-free travel and on how to keep one's house secure while the occupants are away.
Residents throng malls and hypermarkets to buy gifts and goodies
