* Asian communities in Qatar celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Thursday
The festival coming after the recent easing of the strict Covid-19 measures saw the members of these communities turn up in their festive best and marking the occasion with lighting lamps, distributing sweets and adorning homes with special decorations.
Diwali symbolises the “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”, representatives of the communities said. The celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest.
It is celebrated, in particular, by a number of south Asian communities or people who are originally from there but now living elsewhere. In India, brightly coloured rangoli designs are drawn at the entrances of homes and offices, which are decked in fairy lights.
The festival is also celebrated in Nepal and parts of Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh. People also celebrate with friends and families in Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan.
Anticipating a high demand for Diwali gifts and accessories, a number of supermarkets and hypermarkets in Qatar had stored up adequate stocks of such products.
These include a variety of sweets and confectionery, lamps of different types and designs, flowers, decorative lights and other items, candles, materials for ‘rangoli’ – a traditional art form from the Indian subcontinent that uses coloured sand or powder to decorate a floor, and several related accessories. Some people also buy new clothes to mark the occasion. In particular, there is a huge demand for sweets, chocolates and confectioneries, and packets of these are often given away as gifts to friends and family members.
Stores in Doha have been witnessing big crowds of Diwali shoppers since Wednesday, with buyers looking for items in keeping with their requirement and budget. Shops specialising in Indian and other south Asian sweets and savoury items also see brisk business during this period, with some receiving orders for Diwali in advance to cope with the rush.
A number of restaurants and fast-food outlets came up with special Diwali menus and delicacies for the occasion, and demand for both deliveries and dining in was reportedly high. Those looking for lamps had the option of simple earthen lamps or more decorative pieces, either in single pieces or sets. There were also more ornate lamps available at higher prices.
While lamps and candles are lit at home on this occasion, in line with the spirit of the festival, some also choose to put up decorative lights. People gathered at the houses of relatives and friends to celebrate the occasion, with some opting for homemade delicacies and others getting food from restaurants. “We are impressed by the collection of Diwali accessories here. We have already purchased a few things and plan to get some more,” said a customer at a hypermarket Thursday, accompanied by her husband.
“We get almost all the things we need to celebrate the occasion here – be it lamps and oil, colours for ‘rangoli’ as well as chocolates and sweets,” said another customer.
“It reminds us of Diwali shopping back home,” said a buyer at another store, looking for some candles with his children. “We plan to spend quality time with some friends and then have dinner at a restaurant.”
Some said they had to book in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. “We managed it, and look forward to a great evening,” said a Doha resident.
The festival coming after the recent easing of the strict Covid-19 measures saw the members of these communities turn up in their festive best and marking the occasion with lighting lamps, distributing sweets and adorning homes with special decorations.
Diwali symbolises the “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”, representatives of the communities said. The celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest.
It is celebrated, in particular, by a number of south Asian communities or people who are originally from there but now living elsewhere. In India, brightly coloured rangoli designs are drawn at the entrances of homes and offices, which are decked in fairy lights.
The festival is also celebrated in Nepal and parts of Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh. People also celebrate with friends and families in Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan.
Anticipating a high demand for Diwali gifts and accessories, a number of supermarkets and hypermarkets in Qatar had stored up adequate stocks of such products.
These include a variety of sweets and confectionery, lamps of different types and designs, flowers, decorative lights and other items, candles, materials for ‘rangoli’ – a traditional art form from the Indian subcontinent that uses coloured sand or powder to decorate a floor, and several related accessories. Some people also buy new clothes to mark the occasion. In particular, there is a huge demand for sweets, chocolates and confectioneries, and packets of these are often given away as gifts to friends and family members.
Stores in Doha have been witnessing big crowds of Diwali shoppers since Wednesday, with buyers looking for items in keeping with their requirement and budget. Shops specialising in Indian and other south Asian sweets and savoury items also see brisk business during this period, with some receiving orders for Diwali in advance to cope with the rush.
A number of restaurants and fast-food outlets came up with special Diwali menus and delicacies for the occasion, and demand for both deliveries and dining in was reportedly high. Those looking for lamps had the option of simple earthen lamps or more decorative pieces, either in single pieces or sets. There were also more ornate lamps available at higher prices.
While lamps and candles are lit at home on this occasion, in line with the spirit of the festival, some also choose to put up decorative lights. People gathered at the houses of relatives and friends to celebrate the occasion, with some opting for homemade delicacies and others getting food from restaurants. “We are impressed by the collection of Diwali accessories here. We have already purchased a few things and plan to get some more,” said a customer at a hypermarket Thursday, accompanied by her husband.
“We get almost all the things we need to celebrate the occasion here – be it lamps and oil, colours for ‘rangoli’ as well as chocolates and sweets,” said another customer.
“It reminds us of Diwali shopping back home,” said a buyer at another store, looking for some candles with his children. “We plan to spend quality time with some friends and then have dinner at a restaurant.”
Some said they had to book in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. “We managed it, and look forward to a great evening,” said a Doha resident.