Srinagar: With auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr being celebrated on Monday, markets across the Valley were swarmed by shoppers. On Sunday, the rush for bakery products and mutton, and garments has surged significantly.
The demand for edible items, particularly mutton, bakery goods, and confectionaries, soared.
Major markets including Jamia Masjid, Goni Kahn market, Sairabal, Lambert Lane, and Batamaloo, along with district headquarters, witnessed a surge in footfall as eager customers thronged to make their purchases.
Despite the bustling activity, traders have voiced concerns over lower-than-expected sales and decreased business.
While the demand for mutton and bakery products remains high, other sectors of the market experienced below-par sales.
According to traders, one of the contributing factors to this disparity is the rise of e-commerce, which has diverted a portion of local shoppers.
Besides, skyrocketing prices have further hampered sales, with the government opting to eliminate price regulation mechanisms instead of decontrolling prices.
The combination of high prices and changing consumer habits has presented challenges for local businesses, impacting their sales during the festive season.
In the past four and five years, dozens of cafes, bakeries and cake houses have come up across the Valley, quickly becoming a preference for youngsters.
Srinagar’s old city areas like Nowhatta were jam-packed owing to the market around Jamia Masjid.
“There was a lot of variety of apparels and crockery in the market. Bakery stalls were put up outside the Jamia gate. The footfall is good. Vehicles were not allowed to be parked inside the market,” said Gowhara, a homemaker who was out to shop at the market.
The rush at Srinagar markets, including the city centre of Lal Chowk and adjoining facilities like the posh Poloview market, led to traffic jams as well.
“Our sales have jumped manifolds. For shopkeepers, Eid means good business and we always wait for it,” said Rashid Ahmad, a bakery dealer.
However, some shopkeepers claimed that there has been a slump in sales closer to Eid over the past four to five years.
“Online purchases and fake sale offers by some people have led to slump in sales at the markets, which is creating problems for the business community across Kashmir,” said Nazir ahmad, who owns a ready-made clothing outlet in north Kashmir.
Weather experts say that there are strong chances of moon sighting on Sunday evening.
A high-level security review meeting was held on Saturday in Srinagar to take stock of arrangements for Eid. Instructions were issued to officials concerned so that Eid celebrations are completed peacefully.
Eid shoppers throng markets in Valley, traders lament sluggish sales
