With nowhere else to go, single males from the densely populated Industrial Area and surrounding areas flocked yesterday afternoon to the malls, shopping centres, and some of the beaches to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Adha.
Most of the malls opened only after 5pm even though some outlets at the City Center Doha were open at least two hours before.
A number of malls and shopping centres are hosting the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA)’s Eid al-Adha festivities until October 20.
A newly opened mall in the neighbourhood of Karwa headquarters also planned a series of entertainment for visitors, mainly single males, in the coming days.
The management of Safari Mall, which is frequented by large numbers of single males – who are mostly bachelors – from the Industrial Area, has lined up a series of festivities from today.
Though the numbers were relatively not as large yesterday compared to the usual weekend crowds, a surge is expected at most locations from today.
“As was the case in the last Eid in August, we feel the absence of an affordable entertainment venue this time as there is no cinema where one could watch movies,” said an Indian bachelor who works in a studio.
He said that the cost of movie tickets at the multiplexes is too high for those like him.
Some of the single men said the cinemas at the malls could have helped to alleviate the situation by offering some shows at discounted rates during the Eid period, as is being done in some multiplexes in a neighbouring GCC country.
Unable to afford a movie ticket, the single males lamented that they are resigned to just “window shopping” at those malls.
Hordes of single males thronged beaches in Mesaieed, Al Khor, Shamal, Dukhan, and Wakra.
In Al Khor and West End Park on the outskirts of the Industrial Area, musical concerts hosted by Indian expatriate groups were a huge hit.
http://www.gulf-times.com/qatar/178/details/368750/eid-is-a-time-for-fun-but-options-limited-for-many
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