Srinagar, Sept 5: The prevailing situation in the Valley has severely hit the shopping spree by people in run up to the Eid-ul-Fitr.

 While the markets across the Valley, particularly in the summer capital, otherwise remain abuzz with shoppers a week ahead of the festival, the activity has been a low key affair this time in view of the frequent curfews and shutdowns.

 Talking to Greater Kashmir most of the shopkeepers said the current situation had broken the back of the people having low income which has resulted into 60 per cent to 70 per cent less sales on Eid this year. “People are uncertain about the coming days so they prefer not to spend much on Eid and are purchasing only essential items. Last year we did 70 percent to 80 percent sales on Eid, but this year it is less than 30 per cent,” said Wasim Hassan of Naqash Traders, a fabric shop at Lal Chowk here.

 “On Eid every woman visiting our shop would prefer to buy two or three suits, but this year the customers are not even turning up,” he added.

 Many traders maintained that the absence of fresh stocks in the market was also affecting the Eid shopping.

 “The stocks which are presently available in the market are old. We have not ordered fresh stocks for past three months and that is the main reason that people are not finding any new collection which is directly affecting our sales,” said Naseer Ahmad, Proprietor, Impressions Fairdeal Shopping Complex.

 “During normalcy we regularly order fresh collections three to four times a year, but during the current season the shops had remained closed most of the time,” he added.

 The Kids wear shops had no different story to tell. Absence of fresh and latest stocks has reduced their business too. “No doubt people are visiting us to purchase garments for their kids, but we have only old stocks available this time, which is annoying them,” said Fayaz Ahmad of Macs Kids Wear at Fairdeal shopping complex.

 “We have not placed any new orders on Eid because the season is near to end and we hardly open our shops. If we will get new collections and the situation does not improve then it will become a dead stock till next year,” added a salesman at Eco baby a kid’s wear shop at Lambert Lane.

 Anguished on the absence of fresh and latest stocks in the market the customers said that even after visiting whole market they were not able to find anything new. “We came to purchase clothes for our kids, but after visiting different shops in the Lal Chowk we are not able to find any fresh stocks. Our kids won’t like wearing the old design clothes” said Zubair Amin a customer.
 Most of the footwear shop-owners said they were witnessing half the sales compared to last year on Eid eve. “The reality is that the sales have dropped tremendously this Eid. Whatever purchase the people are making it is only for the marriages scheduled in the coming months,” said Arif Mir of Smile Footwear Lal Chowk.

 The customers in the market said they were not spending too much money on shopping this Eid because of the prevailing circumstances. “We don’t know how long these strikes will continue so the money has to be saved. Above all people are getting killed how a Muslim can celebrate Eid with same enthusiasm and joy,” they said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST