‘Ramadan is an opportunity to strengthen family cohesion’

Doha: The holy month of Ramadan has a special impact on the hearts of Qataris and has different meanings in their lives. It is not a month like other months of the year, but rather a month filled with sincere human values of generosity, visiting relatives, and an opportunity for tolerance and strengthening family ties.

Qatari society received the holy month with great joy that pervades all family members, and it is an opportunity to exchange visits, renew the atmosphere of warmth, and organise Ramadan tables, which contributes to strengthening communication between segments of society.

Qataris used to revive Ramadan traditions and customs that they inherited from their ancestors, generation after generation, that appear in preparing Ramadan tables with their delicious popular dishes, juices and dates.

Social researcher Dr. Haya Abdullah Al Dosari said that the preparations of Qataris for the holy month start from the beginning of the month of Shaban, and in the past, the women gather to prepare flour and Ramadan requirements, accompanied by traditional songs from folklore, until preparing the necessary quantities that cover the period of the holy month. Despite the hardship in preparing flour, there is a kind of enjoyment of gathering and preparing supplies.

Al Dosari told to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that by the middle of Shaban, dishes are cooked as ‘a food experience’ and served on the supererogatory night for fasting people, and part of it is distributed to neighbours. After sighting the crescent and welcoming Ramadan, the family gathers in the ‘house of oud’ or the house of the great-grandfather of the family to bless the holy month with joy and celebrate the arrival of the guest, and the Ramadan table consists of popular dishes that were previously prepared, in addition to the juices ‘namlit’ sharbat, tamarind, Vimto, orange and lemon, as well as sweets.

In the same context, Mohammed Salem Al Darwish, who is interested in Qatari heritage, said that Qatari families are keen to meet in the home of the head of the family in order to strengthen the ties of kinship that our true religion enjoins and to earn reward in the holy month, which is an opportunity to strengthen ties, relationships and bonds between family members.

He pointed out that one of the most important Ramadan customs is family visits and communication with neighbours after the evening prayer, in addition to joining majlis with daily gatherings and discussing issues that affect their daily lives, their hopes and their future.

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