Expatriates in the diverse Qatari capital see the festival as a celebration of unique traditions that exist within the same faith.
For Ishak Ansari*, Eid back in Bangladesh began with a phone call from his uncle living in Saudi Arabia, who would inform the family of the crescent moon sighting.
The celebrations would then start early the next day with the Eid Al-Fitr prayer, followed by visiting family and friends and the exchanging of gifts.
Now a cab driver in Doha, Ansari has spent the last few Eid holidays away from home after he decided to make the move to Doha ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
While core rituals have remained the same, some traditions have changed for Ansari. He is now the one who informs the family about the crescent moon sighting, and video calls have replaced the visits to friends and families.
Though he has his circle of Bangladeshi friends in Doha, Ansari has noticed the differences in how others from different countries celebrate Eid. This became particularly evident in 2023, when the Education City stadium opened its gates early for Eid prayers for the first time.
“I have friends from Nepal, Pakistan and India here,” the 27-year-old said. “While we all have the same faith and dedication towards Allah, it is interesting to see the differences.”
“It reminds me of when we used to go to our relatives’ house and find new things and learn about them when we celebrated Eid Al-Fitr together.”
The spirit of Eid Al-Fitr
The announcement of Eid Al-Fitr is made after determining the astronomical calculation of the crescent moon of the lunar Shawwal month, or based on actual observation of the moon. The sighting differs per location, but most of the Muslim population follows Saudi Arabia’s announcement.
Adif from Indonesia vividly remembers when he and his friends used to wait for the sighting and the subsequent announcement in his younger days.
As the country that hosts the largest Muslim population, scattered across its islands, traditions can vary from province to province in Indonesia.
Hailing from the province of West Kalimantan, Adif remembers the Festival Meriam Karbit (Carbide Cannon Festival) that is held to usher in Eid, which involves firing cannons on the banks of the Kapuas River.
Adif, who currently works in the hospitality sector, said that the iftar cannons in Doha, which are fired across several locations to signify the end of the day’s fasting, have reminded him precisely of that festival.
“I am aware that we have a very diverse Muslim community here in Qatar, hence, I want to celebrate this Eid with them,” he said.
“After all, the spirit of the holy month [of Ramadan] is to do good, be generous, observe peace and wish for everyone’s prosperity,” he added. “Since we all share the same belief, it does not make much difference.”
Month of peace
Hashim from Kenya has had a pretty regular Ramadan schedule for the years he has been in Doha. Most evenings are spent watching his peers play football at various Ramadan tournaments, and in case any of them win, Eid celebrations are themed around that.
The tradition of wearing nguo mpya (new clothes) and gathering to share meals remains, but with a twist. Instead of the traditional Swahili pilau, a fragrant spiced rice dish with meat, Hashim and his friends now visit a Pakistani-run eatery in Old Airport to enjoy biryani, another beloved rice and meat dish.
Though the flavours differ, the food is equally delicious and provides the perfect accompaniment for sitting and chatting with friends, he said.
“We even get to talk with people from other nations who come to the restaurant. We all wish each other well and at times, accompany each other for prayers,” Hashim added.
It has been seven years since Hashim left Mombasa for the Qatari capital. Now at a security firm, he has seen the city’s rapid growth, along with the evolving scale of Eid celebrations.
For Hashim, this change has been a positive one.
“There are so many things happening everywhere in Doha, organised by people from different communities,” he said. “I try to attend a few because at the end of the day, it is about celebrating together and embracing and respecting other cultures too.”
*Name has been changed at the request of the interviewee.
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