Eid al-Fitr 2023: All you need to know
Eid al-Fitr in Qatar marks one of the most important festivals for the country. As Qatar is a predominantly Muslim nation and also home to several nationalities and ethnicities, Eid is always celebrated with much joy and fervor every year. Here is all you need to know about Eid al-Fitr 2023 in Qatar.
When is Eid 2022 being celebrated?
This year, according to astronomical calculations, the tentative date for Eid al-Fitr may fall on April 21, 2023, which will be confirmed upon the sighting of the moon. Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has announced that April 21 could potentially be the first day of Eid al-Fitr and also mark the beginning of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar year. This means that Eid al-Fitr could potentially fall on April 21, 22, and 23 (first three days of Eid).
However, the final decision for the month of Shawwal will lie with the Crescent Sighting Committtee at Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Affairs. The moon sighting will be confirmed after investigating the Qatar skies on April 20, 2023.
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim festival that is a culmination of the month-long fasting during Ramadan where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The festival is one of the two most important festivals for Muslims and is celebrated by everyone with much excitement. Qatar’s local as well as expatriate population and visitors thoroughly enjoy the festivities, irrespective of their religion and culture. It is a time for the community to enjoy the festive vibe throughout the country.
Eid holidays
Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in Qatar and all schools, private offices, private companies observe this holiday for at least three days. The tentative dates for Eid al-Fitr 2023 holidays are April 21, 22 and 23.
The Amiri Diwan has announced the Eid holiday schedule for government agencies, ministries, public institutions, and bodies to officially begin on April 19, 2023, and continue until April 27, 2023. Employees of these institutions are expected back at work on Sunday, April 30, 2023.
The Qatar Financial Markets Authority and the Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) will determine the Eid holiday schedule for banks and all financial institutions.
Eid prayers
According to the Ministry of Awqaf, Eid prayer will be performed 15 minutes after sunrise, across mosques and prayer grounds in Qatar. The potential time for this would be 5.20 am.
The Ministry also released a list of mosques and prayer grounds, including the Imam Muhammad bin AbdulWahhab Mosque for Eid al-Fitr 2023 prayer.
This year the Minaretin Center has announced that for the first time ever, Education City stadium premises will host the Eid al-Fitr 2023 prayer for families. This will be followed by an Eid festival hosted by Minaratein.
What do people do on Eid?
The Zakat al-Fitr is a charitable donation to give out to the poor and needy right before the Eid prayer. The Zakat Affairs Department has announced Zakat al Fitr amount to be QAR 15 per person for this year.
Everyone including families and children head over to their favorite mosque for the Eid prayers. After Eid prayers, Doha’s dwellers usually enjoy an early breakfast at home or special Eid brunch at restaurants. Followed by sufficient rest, families are also likely to go out and meet friends and relatives.
Eid gatherings and parties are quite common as everyone gets together to enjoy the festive celebrations with loved ones. Everyone loves to get dressed in new clothes including Western wear, and traditional outfits like jalabiyas, kaftans, thobes, bishts, and abayas. Women and little girls like to adorn their palms with henna designs, and like to get pampered and groomed at salons before Eid begins.
The generous holiday schedule also means people like to spend time outdoors since the weather is still quite pleasant. Many families plan to travel or take their kids outdoors to do fun things together. Food is an equally intrinsic part of Eid al-Fitr as everyone likes to dine out at restaurants on Eid day, eat lots of desserts, and even gift some Eid treats to friends and family.
Eidiya is another important aspect of Eid. It refers to Eid gifts that kids and younger members of the family receive from elders. These could be sweet treats, gifts, or even small tokens of money. This year, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has launched some ATMs for the withdrawal of Eidiya money in denominations of QAR 5, 10, 15, 50, and 100.
Things to do for Eid 2023
Eid al Fitr 2023 is a highly exciting time for everyone to have a great time in Qatar. With the long weekend holiday schedule and the current good weather, there are a plethora of options for people to explore for entertainment and fun. You can check out the many Eid activations happening around the city, such as Mega Park Carnival, Corniche fireworks, Arab music shows, shopping offers and more. Read this article to find details of Eid events and activities.
If you cannot travel this Eid but still want a relaxed time, check out these hotel staycations and spa offers for Eid al-Fitr 2023.
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