Markets in Kashmir bustling with customers in readiness for Eid-ul-Fitr
Residents in Kashmir go on a spending binge in the excitement of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is to be celebrated on Tuesday, May 03
On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, the marketplaces in Kashmir are bustling with shoppers for the first time in two years.
People have been going on a shopping binge, as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, in preparation for Eid-ul Fitr, which will be celebrated on Tuesday.
Large numbers of people were observed shopping for the festival at bakeries, mutton markets, and clothing stores.
Rush on the eve of Eid being witnessed after two years
Pertinently, such a rush on the eve of Eid is being witnessed following a two-year period of lockdown when markets in Kashmir were closed due to the Covid outbreak. The pandemic even played a spoilsport during festivities such as Eid, Diwali, and Christmas.
However, this year, some expressed hope that the pandemic would no longer detract from the allure of festivals. “By the grace of Almighty, COVID-19 is gone now,” remarked Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper.
“People are coming out of their houses after being under lockdown for the past two to three years. We are witnessing a rush, and there’s a lot of happiness since it’s Eid, and people are relieved that the deadly disease of Coronavirus has ended.”
After three years, sweets, bakery, and confectionery shop owners believe they are still in business, and the festival will help them to do some good brisk business.
“I feel like we’re celebrating Eid after three years,” Zahoor Ahmad, a bakery-shop owner, said. “Since 2019, there have been limits on all previous Eid festivities. But this time around, people are content, and business is booming.”
“We are doing shopping after a long time, we have been missing this for the previous two years,” Hurrain Jan, a young girl, says, adding that the residents hope that the pandemic will never again mar their festivals and that a better period will arrive.
“Inflation on the eve of holy festivals is a fact now”
Although, people who were busy buying for the celebrations were brimming with enthusiasm but there were some visibly discontent people, on the other hand, who were dissatisfied with the fact that the cost of almost all commodities increased just ahead of Eid.
Nazir Khan, a sexagenarian, said, “I have seen and experienced it from my young age that whenever a festival is near, things suddenly become expensive. Inflation on the eve of holy festivals is a fact now.”
However, officials claim that they have organised special squads to keep an eye on the market’s pricing and quality of items.
Shawwal moon not seen on Sunday; Eid-ul-Fitr on Tuesday
It is in place to mention here that Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed across Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of the country on Tuesday, May 03 because the Shawwal moon could not be seen on Sunday.
This year’s Ramadan will come to an end after a 30-day period. The Islamic month of Shawwal begins on the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
While speaking to the media, Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam, stated that Eid-ul-Fitr would be observed on Tuesday across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, since the Shawwal crescent was not visible anywhere in the Valley on Sunday evening.