Isabelle in Doha
A French expatriate in Qatar from March 2008 to February 2009Archive for Ramadan
Eid Mubarak!
Ramadan is over. Yesterday was the Eid ul Fitr and everyone got a vacation! Now there are three days to celebrate the Eid. The malls are decorated, like the City Center.
The City Center is decorated for the Eid!
People wish their family and friends a good Eid with sms or cards and gifts…
A shop in City Center
Intercontinental Sohour
Friday evening, my husband and I attended a traditional meal of the Ramadan, the Sohour. Though this meal is supposed to take place early in the morning before fasting, it is oftenly open from 8:00 PM till late.
A very wholesome international buffet with lot of oriental food and juices was offered under a tent especially installed on the Intercontinental Hotel resort. We had fun with some friends and enjoyed the delicious Ramadan specialties.
At several moments of the evening, a man dressed in blue clothes and scarf around his head and two large and multicolored skirts started to dance. He danced and turned on himself – as he was a whirling dervish – making the two skirts dance around him, following the rythm of the music.
The whirling dervish
Ramadan in Doha
Ramadan has started since the 1st of September in Doha. As a non muslim, i have always spent the Ramadan month in France, where i have a few friends who were fasting but it is the very first time i actually live Ramadan in a muslim country.
Things are going in a different way here. The working hours are shortened to allow muslims to fast and pray. All shops except supermarkets like Carrefour are closed all day and only open after 6:00 PM when night is set until midnight or 1:00 AM. People go out at the very end of the day – and there is really plenty of cars in the streets, even very late – enjoying treats and sweets in malls, shopping or just walking along the alleys. The hotels have set tents where they serve buffet dinner for Iftar, after the break of the fast and Sohour, just before the sun rises.
If you are non muslim, the thing is you are not allowed to eat in public areas during the fasting hours of the day, in fact, all restaurants in hotels only open at night. You can buy food in supermarkets and go back home to eat or at your office if you work. It remains hot though less wet outside, so going out only after night as before Ramadan does not feel so difficult. I am only wondering how non muslim workers do to drink water during day to avoid dehydration. Do they hide from the others? I was told that fences are held around the water fountains to hide those who drink from those who do not.
I am waiting for the end of Ramadan to see the Eid ul Fitr celebration.
