Srinagar: With just two days to go for Eid-ul-Adha, markets across Kashmir buzzed with activity on Thursday as shoppers thronged commercial hubs for last-minute festive purchases.
Eid-ul-Adha, which is being celebrated on Saturday, is one of the two major Muslim festivals. It is observed by sacrificing an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and by offering congregational prayers.
Traders are expecting an uptick in business after a sluggish period. “Over the last one week, business was slow. But the rush picked up from Wednesday, and we are expecting a significant jump in sales,” said Javid Tenga, president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). “We will be able to assess the overall business volume by Friday evening.”
However, traders dealing in sacrificial animals reported a dip in sales this year.
“I used to sell around a hundred sheep every Eid. This time, we have sold quite less. There is no usual rush,” said Ali Mohammad, a livestock seller in Srinagar.
Another trader noted a shift in buyer preferences toward healthier breeds, with many opting for non-local sheep imported from Rajasthan, Delhi, and other states due to their higher meat yield and thinner hides — making them more suitable for sacrifice.
Prices of sacrificial animals ranged between Rs 340 and Rs 450 per kilogram.
Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Rafiq Ahmed Shah said there are less number of takers for the sacrificial animal this year.
“Our department ensures that healthy sacrificial animals are available everywhere in sufficient numbers and this year there are 2.47 lakh sheep and goats available in the markets in Kashmir,” Shah said.
Traditionally, sacrifices begin after the Eid prayers on the first day and continue over the next two days, with the meat shared among relatives, neighbours, and the needy.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar and other major towns across Kashmir, the markets were bustling with people making a beeline to the outlets selling apparels, shoes and bakery goods. Even young men and women have been thronging cafes to purchase customised bakery goods. Many business centres had installed special stalls to attract customers.
UNI
