Srinagar, Nov 1: Something popular about the Middle-East seems to be picking up in this City in the Himalayas at-least when it comes to preparations for the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations. Like the desert countries, people here are opting for the festive sacrifice of camels. Even though the number is small, the trend has picked up over the years.
 And, for those who cannot afford to buy the comparatively “costly” tall big animal, there’s still a chance to relish its meat because the same is up for sales at Parimpora Mandi on the City outskirts.

MIDDLE-EAST TO CITY WEST
 Popular as Ship of Desert, the camels, for the past few years have become regular attraction ahead of the Baqr Eid at Parimpora in the west of Srinagar, the state’s summer Capital.
 While some had been eyeing for their purchase even before the import of the camels to Kashmir, other curious customers have been doing the rounds of this particular meat shop, close to which these animals stand tall but tied for sale these days.

THE DEALER
 For the past few years –this meat dealer, Abdul Rehman –imports animals for the annual Qurbani sale. And every time the camels are up for sale, the stock is exhausted within a day or two, he says.
 Even though he had given up the import of  camels from the desert state of Rajasthan “due to difficulty in transportation”, its demand made him resume the task two years back.
 “People would come to my shop curiously looking for camel so I thought I must come up to their expectations because it’s a matter of faith,” says Rehman while negotiating camel cost with some aspiring customers.

SALES PICKING UP
 What Rehman started with the import of mere four camels some seven years back has picked up in the Kashmir markets with sales going up with each annual import from places like Rajasthan.
 “The first time I introduced the camels, I had brought four of them. The next year I brought five and gradually this time I succeeded to bring a dozen odd,” he says. “Still I am not worried. Even if any of the camels remains unsold, I will slaughter it for sale in open markets,” he says.

EXPERTS SPEAK
 Senior Vet and Director Animal Husbandry department Dr Farooq Ahmed Kaloo relates the camel sale with curiosity.“Basic thing is that people take it out of curiosity… Some have religious liking because Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has taken it,” Dr Kaloo told Greater Kashmir.

THE CLIENTELE
 Firdous Hussain, a civil engineer by profession eyes to buy one.  “I always aspired to buy a camel but every time I reached this marketplace the stock had exhausted. I hope the deal matures this time InshaAllah,” Hussain told Greater Kashmir.

ARABS AND THE CAMELS
As for the Gulf countries particularly Saudi Arabia, camel has often been a symbol of nomadic tradition. While tremendous oil wealth has brought rapid modernisation to the desert state of Saudi Arabia, the camel remains celebrated due to its connection with the traditional nomadic lifestyle of Bedouin Arabs.
 Throughout history, the camel has served multiple purposes as food, friend, transport and war machine. It was key to the Arab conquests of the Middle East and North Africa over 1,400 years ago that brought Islam to the world.
 Specialties such as camel liver have long been on the menu of upmarket restaurants there while its meat is even being used in making of burgers.
 As for Kashmiris they have their own delicacy plans. “I will get Harrisa prepared out of its meat,” says Showkat Ahmed while buying the Camel meat from the Parimpora Mandi.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST