Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, June 15: Ahead of Eid ul-Azha, Srinagar today presented a bustling look, with shoppers thronging to various markets in preparation for the big occasion just a day away.
While the rush of people had been noticeable over the past few days, shopkeepers reported a significant increase in the number of customers since yesterday.
“In the last few days, the market is witnessing a huge rush of people. Even though there is no boom, to some extent, the overall situation is better,” said Manzoor Ahmad, spokesperson for the Goni Khan Shopkeepers’ Association.
Shopkeepers at Goni Khan market, one of the city’s largest, noted an increase in shoppers but also expressed concerns about ongoing construction work under the Srinagar Smart City project.
“Due to these works, people are facing issues reaching the market. It has turned out to be a factor keeping people away and has affected business; there are no parking facilities, causing hardships,” said Bashir Ahmad, a shopkeeper.
The spokesperson for the Goni Khan Shopkeepers’ Association mentioned that while the construction works are currently affecting usual and festive business, they believe conditions will improve in the future. “We are sacrificing currently for better days ahead,” he added.
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Shabir Ahmad, a vendor at the Goni Khan market, also noted that business is less than usual and pointed to the lack of parking facilities as a significant issue.
“If you had come here five years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to talk to you even for a minute, but things are different these days. If there was a parking facility, the rush of people would have been huge,” he said.
In other markets, such as Lal Chowk, Makkah Market, and several in the old city, people were seen shopping in large numbers throughout the day, buying clothes, footwear, and other items.
Nearby, at Koker Bazar market, shopkeepers were busy attending to customers buying household items ranging from spices to other necessities.
“This market remains busy otherwise as well, but today, people are coming in good numbers. Compared to last year, business appears to be good, but overall, the purchasing power of people has taken a hit,” said Latief Ahmad, a shopkeeper.
The iconic market at the historic Jamia Masjid also witnessed an increase in people shopping ahead of Eid ul-Azha.
Meanwhile, at the Mandi in Eidgah, set up for the sale of sacrificial animals, a considerable rush of people has been witnessed over the past few days. The Mandi has emerged as the largest of its kind over the last few years.
Muhammad Aslam Khan from Rajouri, who brought livestock from Shopian to be sold at Eidgah Mandi, said he is selling a specific breed of sheep in high demand in Kashmir and that the market is faring well compared to previous years.
Buyers, however, have presented a mixed response regarding the rates of livestock at the Mandi. Some state that the rates are good, while others urge the authorities to regulate prices.
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