All you need to know about Eid al-Fitr 2022 in Qatar
Eid al-Fitr 2022 in Qatar is all set to be a much more relaxed and joyous affair this year. With the Covid-19 situation fairly under control and a widely vaccinated population, Eid celebrations this time around are all set to take on a more colorful tone. Here’s all you need to know about Eid al-Fitr in Qatar for the year 2022.
When is Eid 2022 being celebrated?
This year, according to astronomical predictions, the tentative date for Eid has been announced on May 2, 2022, which is subject to change based on the moon sighting. The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs’s Crescent Sighting Committee shall convene immediately after Maghrib (sunset) prayers to look for the crescent moon on May 1, 2022. The sighting of the crescent shall mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar year. Once the announcement is made officially, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated across Qatar on May 2, 2022.
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr after a month of fasting in the entire Holy Month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr meaning translates to ‘Feast of breaking the fast’ to commemorate the end of Ramadan when Muslims fast dawn-to-dusk.
Qatar is host to Muslims from various nationalities and hence witnesses the festival being celebrated with great fervor by citizens, expatriates, and visitors alike.
Eid holidays
Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in Qatar and the festival is celebrated for three days as a holiday for all including schools, private offices, and companies. These dates would be May 2-4.
The Amiri Diwan has announced the Eid holiday for government entities to begin on May 1, 2022, and end on May 9, 2022. This means that all Ministries, govt. agencies, public bodies, and institutions will return to work on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
Holidays for banks and other financial institutions will be determined by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority and the Governor of Qatar Central Bank.
Eid prayers
According to the Ministry of Awqaf, the Eid prayer is to be held across mosques and prayer grounds in Qatar at approximately 15 minutes post sunrise. The Ministry also released a list of said mosques and prayer grounds where Eid prayers are to be held that year. Thousands of people congregate at these mosques including the Imam Abdul Wahab Grand Mosque to pray the Eid namaz. Three mosques: Costa Fayrouz (Paerl Qatar), FANAR and Aspire are expected to have the Eid Khutbah in English.
What do people do on Eid?
The Zakat-al-Fitra are important alms to give out to the poor and needy before praying the Eid prayer. Post Eid prayers, people have an early breakfast which could be something special according to their native culture or family preference. This is followed by a good amount of rest before heading out again to meet with loved ones, families, and close friends.
Some even host Eid gatherings and parties to celebrate the spirit of the festival. Everyone gets dressed in their newest, best clothes to celebrate Eid. Women also like to get their hands adorned with intricate henna designs as a part of the festivities. Several families also prefer to spend the day out dining or making the most of Eid holidays with their kids.
Eidiya refers to the Eid gifts that kids and younger members of the family get from the parents and elders. These could be sweets, gifts, or even small sums of money. Kids are generally excited to collect as much Eidiya as possible.
Things to do for Eid 2022
This time around, Eid is much more cheerful and with the relaxed measures, everyone intends to have a great time. People plan on heading to new restaurants and cafes that have opened up as dine-in options that will resume during the daytime. Families who haven’t been able to take a long vacation might end up taking day trips to the beach and even opting for many of the amazing staycation options offered by luxury hotels.
The highlight of this year’s Eid will most definitely be the Eid al-Fitr festival being hosted by Qatar Tourism during May 3—5. Each day from 4-11 pm, there will be a host of activities and entertainment to be held alongside Doha Corniche. Some of the events include a giant balloon parade, carnival games, food kiosks, and performances by local artists.
The fireworks display that will light up daily at 9 pm will make for a spectacular Eid for Qatar’s residents.
Even Katara Cultural Village Foundation has invited the public to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with them at Katara for the four days of the festival. The festivities are expected to kick-off from 4-9 pm daily at Katara Beach.
The festivities by Katara will include fireworks display at the Katara seafront, an Arabic folklore band, Planetarium shows and Eid gifts distribution for children. There is also a play that will be performed at the Drama Theatre. The entire schedule has been released on their website as well as socials.
Note:
- The restrictions have relaxed quite a bit since the last two years, but the Ministry urges the public to still adhere to safety protocol and safeguard their health.
- The Corniche area can get pretty crowded, so plan your routes accordingly and take into account the several traffic flows.
- Ashghal has added 17 new bus stops for the Corniche Shuttle Bus Routes with 25 bus stops. If you wish to visit and truly enjoy the festival, it could be a good idea to park your car elsewhere and utilize the metro and metrolink services to reach Corniche.
- Keep an eye out for updates on the weather forecast as Qatar Meteorological Department has been predicting scattered rain and dusty weather for the first week of May.
--
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
Twitter - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
