With at least four of the six venues for the Eid al-Adha celebrations for the expatriates in the country's southern and south eastern areas, all roads led to the places in and around the Doha Industrial Area on the first two days of the holidays.
While hailing the decision of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Ministry of Administrative Development Labour and Social Affairs to host celebrations in the locations surrounding the Industrial Area, many expatriates hoped the huge turnout at the venues would prompt the authorities to conduct more such events in those venues in coming days.
Each of the venues, namely the Labour City and Asian Town in Mesaimeer-Abu Hamour and Barwa al Baraha (Workers City) received a large number of visitors in the first two days.
The five-hour entertainment shows had the participation of several thousands of cheering spectators, who braved humid weather conditions in the evenings to fill every inch of the stadiums.
Though Asian Town has been exceptionally familiar to the country's residents owing to the increased frequency at which stage shows are held over the last four years, the decision of the local authorities to make the other two locations for entertainments was considered a major challenge as no major state shows were held there since the opening of the townships. The two townships together house several thousands of the expatriate `singles' and bachelors.
Civil Defence personnel demonstrate the use of fire extinguishers at Asian Town.
"One of the major advantages of hosting entertainment events in such locations is that visitors, especially those from the densely-populated Industrial Area, would be able to access these venues without any traffic issues," said an official of an Indian expatriate forum which participated in the entertainment events.
He also recalled the huge participation of the Asian expatriates at the Indian Community Benevolent Forum's annual celebrations at the Asian Town last May.
He reasoned that such crowds were possible only because of its accessibility to the thickly populated pockets in the Doha Industrial Area.
On the first two days, the cricket stadium and amphitheatre at the Asian team witnessed considerably large numbers of expatriates.
Now many residents have no doubts that the venues on the south eastern side of the city would be the natural choice of most organisers of cultural shows in the expatriate communities in future.
The operations of the public transport bus services at no cost between the Karwa Bus Station near Asian Town and the Industrial Area Streets were a big boost to the residents of the area.
At the Wakrah Sports Club too, there was reasonably good turnout, thanks to the growing concentration of workers on the southern side owing to the ongoing construction of a large number of major infrastructure projects there.
The numbers of such workers are bound to rise at least in the next few years as more and more projects are still taken up on that side.
Each of the venues, namely the Labour City and Asian Town in Mesaimeer-Abu Hamour and Barwa al Baraha (Workers City) received a large number of visitors in the first two days.
The five-hour entertainment shows had the participation of several thousands of cheering spectators, who braved humid weather conditions in the evenings to fill every inch of the stadiums.
Though Asian Town has been exceptionally familiar to the country's residents owing to the increased frequency at which stage shows are held over the last four years, the decision of the local authorities to make the other two locations for entertainments was considered a major challenge as no major state shows were held there since the opening of the townships. The two townships together house several thousands of the expatriate `singles' and bachelors.
Civil Defence personnel demonstrate the use of fire extinguishers at Asian Town.
"One of the major advantages of hosting entertainment events in such locations is that visitors, especially those from the densely-populated Industrial Area, would be able to access these venues without any traffic issues," said an official of an Indian expatriate forum which participated in the entertainment events.
He also recalled the huge participation of the Asian expatriates at the Indian Community Benevolent Forum's annual celebrations at the Asian Town last May.
He reasoned that such crowds were possible only because of its accessibility to the thickly populated pockets in the Doha Industrial Area.
On the first two days, the cricket stadium and amphitheatre at the Asian team witnessed considerably large numbers of expatriates.
Now many residents have no doubts that the venues on the south eastern side of the city would be the natural choice of most organisers of cultural shows in the expatriate communities in future.
The operations of the public transport bus services at no cost between the Karwa Bus Station near Asian Town and the Industrial Area Streets were a big boost to the residents of the area.
At the Wakrah Sports Club too, there was reasonably good turnout, thanks to the growing concentration of workers on the southern side owing to the ongoing construction of a large number of major infrastructure projects there.
The numbers of such workers are bound to rise at least in the next few years as more and more projects are still taken up on that side.
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