By Muneeb Naqeeb
As the auspicious day of Eid approaches traders across the valley are decorating their shops with a festival look, adding up to the beauty of the market. Popular markets of Srinagar such as Lal Chowk, Jamia Masjid, Goni Khan, Batamaloo are already witnessing a large crowd of people and according to the shopkeepers; it would only grow larger after Friday.
“People have started to buy mutton for Eid already; Nowadays people don’t prefer the hassle of last day shopping, staying in long endless ques and all, we are expecting the crowd to grow bigger after this Friday and are well prepared to meet the demands of people” says Irfan, a local Butcher.
It is to be noted that the meat is being sold at Rs 650 per Kg against the govt rate of Rs 535.
“This year, it is not going to be easy to go Extravagant, but it is a festival that brings joy and hope across the globe, keeping that into consideration, the basic celebratory requirements are to be meant” said Waseem, a shopper.
“Bakery and confectionery production has not slowed; we are anticipating a large demand from the public and have been working day in and day out for the past 6 days to meet it” Says Qasim, an Employee of Mughal Darbar Karan Nagar.
People already are shopping for Eid at local bakeries, with only two or three days until Eid ul Fitr, the sales are expected to go up after this Friday, confirm many local shopkeepers.
“I am setting a stall outside my shop to accommodate all the sweet and spicy snacks, for the Eid, women shoppers accompanied by children find it easy to choose and buy these snacks when they are kept on show like this” says Javeed Ahmad, a local shopkeeper.
“Usually during the festive season, party wear dresses for kids are in demand, so I have to stock up my shop with all the trendy outfits. The business is slower than usual but the crowd is increasing and I am hoping for my sales to increase as well after Jumat-Ul Vida” said Ghulam Muhammad, a shopkeeper from Goni khan market.
Popular department stores and shopping malls are also seeing a surge in footfall ahead of Eid. Owners of these stores are offering discounts on certain products in order to attract maximum customer footfalls.
“Eid is an occasion to see what is new in the market, people might not buy what they like immediately, but they browse around and ask about them after the Eid in an attempt to catch a better deal” Says Yahya Khan, owner of a furnishing shop.