Customers visited numerous markets in Kashmir valley forward of Eid despite the fact that merchants say that gross sales will not be substantial and sacrificial sheep markets are going through a stoop as fewer persons are going for the sacrifice attributable to financial misery.
A lady will get henna utilized on her hand forward of the Eid-ul-Adha, in Srinagar on Thursday. (ANI)
The merchants mentioned that there are a number of causes for the stoop with most speedy being Pahalgam assault and the war-like scenario whereas the dismal market situation was in continuity for the previous few years notably after 2019.
There was a noticeable rush of individuals in numerous markets of uptown and downtown together with metropolis centre Lal Chowk and Nawhatta in outdated metropolis.
Persons are thronging shops promoting attire, sneakers, bakeries and jewelry. The sale of sacrificial animals may very well be seen happening at a number of locations throughout the area.
Kashmir merchants and producers federation president Yasin Khan mentioned that the general enterprise was down regardless of Eid.
“Eid ul Adha is a big festival for us in which sacrifice is done. There used to be a lot of hustle and bustle earlier but the situation is not such now. With Eid just one day away, the sales have not been more than 20% of what used to be on normal Eid days. Last year it was 40-45%,” he mentioned.
Jammu and Kashmir will likely be celebrating Eid-ul-Adha on Saturday with Muslims going for the sacrifice of animals.
The Eid comes over a month after Pahalgam assault by which 25 vacationers and an area had been killed by terrorists triggering an exodus of vacationers from the valley and affecting the city economic system.
Khan mentioned that the Pahalgam assault and the war-like scenario between India and Pakistan could also be one of many causes for the stoop.
“That is one of the reasons, but down the line there has been a pile up of issues more particularly after 2019, then Covid and GST issues,” he mentioned.
The sheep sellers this yr are experiencing much less demand from the folks for the sacrificial animals despite the fact that the availability of animals was in good numbers.
“ The sale is not much. The circulation of money in the market is very less and people are not spending as they used to spend on Eid. Even the high spending consumers who used to buy sacrificial animals for ₹50,000 or more, they are now opting for smaller deals,” mentioned Sajad Ahmad, a seller at Eidgah the place the biggest market of sacrificial animals is held.
One other seller mentioned that the flight of vacationers from the Valley affected the economic system of the town.
“People don’t have enough money. They are now more concerned about their basic needs than spending on luxuries,” mentioned Danish Ahmad.
The outdated aspect of the town is exhibiting no totally different behaviour. The merchants of Shehr-e-Khaas or Previous Metropolis mentioned that the persons are visiting the markets, however gross sales will not be taking place.
“The economy is in a bad shape. We are seeing minimal sales. The main reason is the impact on tourism and flight of tourists from here recently. The circulation of money is not much,” mentioned Javed Habib, a outstanding dealer of Previous Metropolis.