Iftar at Al Arabi Sports Club yesterday. Photo by Kammutty VP © The Peninsula
Amid soaring temperature that hinders single workers to walk to iftar venues set up across the country, a generous host in Al Aziziya is offering chance to win two cars in a unique raffle draw in a bid to attract the fasting people during holy month of Ramadan.
About a thousand fasting people are being provided coupons with iftar meals on daily basis to test their lucks for the prize, the workers attending the aforementioned iftar tent regularly told The Peninsula.
They are required to write their names, mobile number and nationality on the coupons and put in the raffle box. “I take my four roommates in my car to an iftar tent in Al Aziziya every day, Asghar Ali, a mechanic at Industrial Area told The Peninsula.
“The tent offers iftar meals to about a thousand fasting people and distributes coupons to win two brand new Chevrolet cars. We were told that the winners will be picked up through raffle draw after Ramadan," said the mechanic.
“We reached at the venue about 5pm. There is enough space for every visitor. So far, I did not see anyone going back empty handed due to lack of space,” said Ali.
“Iftar tents solved our cooking problems during Ramdan and gave us enough time for prayers. I did not even think to cook iftar meals during Ramadan. I go there directly from my workshop on daily basis, said Ali.
Many workers finding it difficult to reach far-away iftar venues
First of all, we were served dates and cold water to break the fast. After maghrib (Sunset) prayer, the tent offers the main course – rice with chicken or mutton, with labon, juices and chocolate. They were also provided haris (a famous Qatari dish made of wheat and meat, specially prepared during Ramadan), he added.
Iftar tents that used to be set up at various places across the Industrial Area are absent this year due to the ongoing road construction works, The Peninsula has learnt.
This year, charity organizations set up about four tents for single workers near the Industrial Area but they are a little distant, making it difficult, especially for those do not have transportation, to reach them. They are located behind Doha Bank near Safari Mall, another one in front of Islamic center (known as mosque of Tablighi jamat), and two tents inside the Labour City-Asian Town.
“In the past years, many tents were set up inside the Industrial Area. They were at Al Atiya market, near the big mosque, Street No. 2 near Municipality Mosque, Street No. 47 and Street No. 23 near roundabout, Maqbol Ahmad, a shopkeeper in the Industrial Area said.
“It is difficult to walk in the scorching sun for long to reach to an iftar venue. I do not have a car, and sometimes my friend takes me to the mosque of tablighi jamat. Thousands of single workers gather there every day to have iftar meals. The mosque offers iftar meals of Asian food,” said Ahmad.
“At weekend, the facility turns into a spiritual place. I came with my friend yesterday (Thursday evening). I spent the whole night there. We are also served Suhur meal," said Ahmad.
Some labour camps took their workers in big numbers to iftar tents but many others like salesmen, technicians and helpers who do not have transportation find it difficult to reach to iftar venue, he added.
