SMALL pancakes, barbecued kebabs, harees, samosas and a host of other traditional items sold at roadside stalls were most sought after as people rushed to buy them for breaking the fast yesterday evening, ahead of this year’s first Iftar. The National showroom area, the Dhow Roundabout area and the road adjacent to the Beirut Restaurant started getting crowded as early as 3pm, while the air was filled with the aroma of Qataif (small pancakes), pakoras (fried savouries), fried chillis and other items being cooked. Qataif are really popular among the locals and expatriates alike, who further fill them up with a stuffing of their own choice. A kilo was available at QR16.

Meanwhile, fried items, even though it’s still hot and humid, were as popular as ever because of their affordability and spiciness. A meat-filled samosa was available for QR0.75, while chicken samosa was QR1 a piece and two vegetable samosas for QR1. And then, there was the Indian variety and the Pakistani variety of snacks. At the Indian kiosk, traditional fried items as Mathu Bara, Chilli Bhaji, Chicken Lollipop, Sweet Uppum, Dal Bara and others were available. An assorted pack cost QR11. “This year we’ve had to increase the price though. Last year, we were selling the same pack with 10 different items for QR8,” explained the stall-owner.

At other joints, long line of vehicles and people formed to get their hands on Dahi Barha and Chana Chats, which were available for QR4 for a small plate.

Some of these shops have been operating since the 70s and have become a one-stop point where people can buy food for the evening meal of Iftar.

The whole area had a sizable presence of Traffic Police to manage the flow of vehicles. Treats such as harees, made of meat and wheat, was also distributed free from several Qatari houses to anyone with a taste for the potent dish. Kids and adults were seen thronging the gates of these houses, carrying their own bowls and empty dishes.

Shopping centres and grocery shops meanwhile, saw huge number of shoppers all day yesterday as the build-up to the first Iftar became intense.

Parking lots were literally filled with vehicles all day long and inside people were seen buying variety of fruits, fresh dairy products, juices and other items.

“It has been like this since this morning,” a cashier at one of the Al Meera Centres in the heart of the city, said. In some areas, community Iftars were also held, as well as free food distributed to the needy. The rush, however, gave way to a sudden end right before the Maghreb prayer, when the faithful rejoiced and broke their fast.

Source: Gulf-Times