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Srinagar: High pitched Eid-eve shopping continued in
this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Friday with markets
overcrowded with enthusiastic purchasers.
Dozens of sacrificial animal markets have come up the city, with
the Eidgah ground in the old city being the largest.
Hundreds of buyers thronged the Eidgah ground as sellers dictated
the prices of sheep and goats without any control over them.
"Prices at the animal market are completely under the control of
the sellers, who are charging exorbitant rates", said Showkat
Ahmad Sofi, 45, a buyer.
Muhammad Ishaq, 54, an animal seller, said the livestock is
high-priced at the source as the shepherds have jacked up their
rates.
Still, sales were brisk despite the animals costing anything
between Rs.6,000 and Rs.15,000.
Eid-ul-Azha, being celebrated here Saturday, commemorates the
sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim, who was prepared to sacrifice
his son Ismail to please Allah. As the father blindfolded himself
and moved the blade on the son's throat, Allah ordered a ram from
heaven to replace Ismail. Festivities followed at Ibrahim home as
Allah had accepted his sacrifice, but spared his son.
Animal sacrifice is, therefore, the most significant custom
observed by devotees on Eid-ul-Azha.
Apart from sheep and goats, the sought after items included
cooking gas cylinders, kerosene, bakery items, hosiery and
firecrackers.
Makeshift bakery shops have come up throughout the city, shrinking
the already choked traffic arteries. Long traffic jams were
witnessed in the city as police had a tough time dealing with the
mess.
Black marketing of essential items, including cooking gas
cylinders, kerosene and foodstuff seems to have defied all the
administrative attempts to keep the prices under control.
"We have sent out special checking squads throughout the city and
a number of traders who were overcharging have been booked," said
an official of the district administration, but people everywhere
complained that such squads were conspicuous by their absence.
"I did not see any officials going around to check the prices as
unscrupulous traders have a field day," said Raashid, a
photojournalist who went round the city taking pictures at busy
markets.
Children once again were in the forefront of the shopping spree,
driving their parents crazy.
"My son has brought me to Srinagar from my village. He wants to
buy firecrackers from a particular shop in the city. I remained
stuck in a traffic jam for two hours," said Nazir Ahmad Mir, 42, a
resident of Benhama village in north Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
Well, in a land where over 22 years of death and destructions have
snatched the smiles off many faces, a little thrill and
overindulgence is always welcome. What better opportunity to spend
more to bring cheer to one's family than Eid-ul-Azha?
(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)
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