Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar July 31: As Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on Saturday amid the Covid-19 pandemic, many markets opened in parts of Kashmir including Srinagar, however, the usual rush of shoppers on Eid was missing.
Even though authorities had eased some restrictions on Tuesday morning in view of Eid, however, the usual hustle and bustle was missing.
Old markets like Goni Khan Market which would usually witness a huge rush on this festive occasion and would be thronged by shoppers particularly women fold to buy jewellery and apparels.
“There is no charm of Eid as it was seen in earlier years, people are distressed. Sometimes we feel like giving the items free of cost after coming to know about the conditions of customers,” said Hayat, a businessman in Goni Khan market.
Though the old city market in Nowhatta Chowk witnessed footfall of some shoppers on Wednesday but later authorities asked the street vendors to vacate and shopkeepers were also asked to close their hops in view of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Shuaib Mohammad, who is a shopkeeper in Nowhatta said, “If we compare the Eid rush with previous years it was very less. On the eve of Eid markets would witness a huge rush but today such hustle and bustle was missing.”
Similarly, Lalchowk—city’s business hub was open but buyers were mostly absent.
Meanwhile, many religious leaders have urged people to celebrate Eid with simplicity taking all necessary precautions in view of COVID-19 and said that all the mosques and shrines will remain closed for prayers.
Even sacrificial animals were also available at selected places and people have asked to follow the precautionary measures while distributing the sacrificial meat. (KNO)
