Spirits in Qatar were high yesterday as residents from around the country spent time with family and friends to celebrate the beginning of the Eid Al Adha (festival of the sacrifice) holiday.

Crowds thronged Qatar’s malls, Katara Cultural Village, West End Park, Souq Waqif and other areas, encouraged by the cooler weather (at least during the morning and evening) and many activities on offer.

There were some bumps in the road for some.

Because Eid Al Adha is marked with the slaughtering of animals whose meat is then distributed to family, neighbors and the poor, overeating is often a problem. This year, hospitals reported treating some 600 patients for stomach ailments and indigestion.

Also putting a dent in the fun for some residents were traffic hotspots, especially by Katara Cultural Village.

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Katara is holding 15-minute fireworks shows through Tuesday (starting around 10:15pm) that can be seen from the Corniche, another area that was crowded last night.

But taxi drivers told Doha News that overall, the roads were fairly clear of traffic, thanks to the mass exodus of residents during the holidays.

Minimal congestion is expected to be the case throughout the week, as schools and most banks and government offices will be shut until Oct. 12.

For a list of all the things going on in Qatar this week, check out our Eid Guide here.

How are you celebrating the holidays? Thoughts?