People in large numbers Monday thronged different markets across Kashmir to make purchases ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is like to be celebrated on Wednesday or Thursday. A huge rush was seen at mutton shops and bakery outlets throughout the day. The rush also led to massive traffic jams causing inconvenience to commuters.
Markets across Srinagar and other districts of the Valleywere abuzz with shopping activity. Apart from food items, readymade garments,toys and household goods are also in huge demand this Eid.
While readymade and footwear showrooms witnessed customersespecially females in large numbers, shoppers bee lined mutton shops and bakeryoutlets as well. Popular markets such as Maharaja Bazar, Goni Khan, Batamaloo,Lal Chowk in uptown Srinagar and Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta Jamia Market at theDowntown witnessed huge rush of people.
Bakery outlets made hay as people purchased different bakeryitems from even shops who had also pitched make-shift tents to accommodate therush.
Despite fasting for Ramadhan, people visited markets to buygoods which are most popular on Eid. The respite from the heat on Monday due torains also encouraged shoppers to move out in the markets. Right since morningpeople visited showrooms and vendors to make purchases but the rush increasedduring afternoon. While people made purchases from showrooms in the city-centremarkets of the summer capital, vendors who had set up their kiosks on arterialroads such as between TRC Junction to Hari Singh High Street and even Batamaloodid brisk business.
People purchased clothes, toys, household goods and evenelectronic accessories from the hawkers but also complained that presence ofroadside vendors was a main reason for the massive traffic jams.
Such was the brisk footfall at the bakery outlets that bythe end of the day, many of them had run out of stocks. Several bakery outletshave provided the option of pre-booking the orders while some are even offeringfree home delivery. Amid huge rush shoppers complained of overpricing of goodsespecially food items. They said authorities were not monitoring prices neithertaking action against profiteers. “Instead of providing festive discounts,shopkeepers are indulging in open loot and authorities are giving them a free hand,”said Bilal Ahmad, a shopper. Purchase of home furnishing and home decorationproducts ahead of forthcoming Eid is also a common sight. “Products such as dryfruit bowls, paintings, wall art , flower vases are among the popular goods,”said a vendor Farooq Ahmad.
Ahead of Eid, furnishing shops are also witnessingconsiderable footfall. “Since there is a drop in sales during Ramadhan, a boomin purchase of home furnishing is witnessed just ahead of Eid every year,” saidowner of a furnishing showroom. Meanwhile, popular selling product ahead of Eidis mobile phones, especially touch screen smart phones.