ramadan eerder dan verwacht, start op zaterdag.........
Doha • Hundreds of Muslim expatriates who turned up for a mass Iftar party at the Al Jasra Eid prayer grounds yesterday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, were disappointed as meals were not served.
They had to satisfy themselves with the water and dates that the organisers provided to break the fast.
Al Jasra Eid prayer ground is one of the major venues in the city where free Iftar parties have been held during every Ramadan. The Zakat Fund is the organiser of the Iftar, while Iftars are offered in many other locations by leading charitable organisations, including the Fund. Hundreds of low-income expatriates of various nationalities benefit from the free meals served throughout the fasting month.
It is learnt that the goof-up occurred as the catering company responsible for providing the meals failed to deliver the food. However, this could not be officially confirmed since Zakat Fund officials were not available for comments yesterday.
More than 1,000 people had gathered at the venue yesterday. The organizers had made seating arrangements for 1,200 people, along with dates and water, the traditional menu for breaking the fast. Their wait for the main meals, which normally includes fried rice or majboos served with meat, however, proved futile.
“I have been attending the Iftar party here for the past seven years, but this is the first time I have this kind of an experience,” said Abdul Jabbar, a Pakistani.
Shakeer, a Keralite, said the free Iftar meals was a boon for him as he had no space to cook food in his crowded apartment. He added that he had been relying on Iftar meals served at this particular venue during Ramadan over the past three years.
“This has come as a major surprise to me. I don’t know where I will go for the meals. All the restaurants will be crowded at this time,” lamented Noorul Islam, a Bangladeshi expatriate.
They had to satisfy themselves with the water and dates that the organisers provided to break the fast.
Al Jasra Eid prayer ground is one of the major venues in the city where free Iftar parties have been held during every Ramadan. The Zakat Fund is the organiser of the Iftar, while Iftars are offered in many other locations by leading charitable organisations, including the Fund. Hundreds of low-income expatriates of various nationalities benefit from the free meals served throughout the fasting month.
It is learnt that the goof-up occurred as the catering company responsible for providing the meals failed to deliver the food. However, this could not be officially confirmed since Zakat Fund officials were not available for comments yesterday.
More than 1,000 people had gathered at the venue yesterday. The organizers had made seating arrangements for 1,200 people, along with dates and water, the traditional menu for breaking the fast. Their wait for the main meals, which normally includes fried rice or majboos served with meat, however, proved futile.
“I have been attending the Iftar party here for the past seven years, but this is the first time I have this kind of an experience,” said Abdul Jabbar, a Pakistani.
Shakeer, a Keralite, said the free Iftar meals was a boon for him as he had no space to cook food in his crowded apartment. He added that he had been relying on Iftar meals served at this particular venue during Ramadan over the past three years.
“This has come as a major surprise to me. I don’t know where I will go for the meals. All the restaurants will be crowded at this time,” lamented Noorul Islam, a Bangladeshi expatriate.
Comments