Srinagar: With the culmination of the fasting month, the Kashmir valley is all set to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr today on Saturday.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam on Thursday evening announced that the Eid will be celebrated on Saturday. “There was no evidence or witness from any part of J&K about the sighting of the moon on Thursday. Hence, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday,” Islam said. While the incessant rains played spoilsport during the last four days, people flooded markets across the valley for Eid shopping on Thursday. The locals had done most of the shopping for the Eid yesterday, anticipating that Eid may fall on Friday. The markets did not see much footfall of shoppers on Friday.
While the bakery and mutton shops had witnessed a massive rush of shoppers for the past few days, the traders complained of depressed sales especially in Srinagar on the eve of Eid. The joint secretary of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Omar Tibet Bakal said the quantum of trade on Eid as per their estimates used to be around Rs 1500 to 2,000 crores. “But this year, it will be quite less,” he said, adding there are multiple reasons behind the depressed sales. He said rains, the ongoing works in Srinagar under the smart city project and lack of liquidity played spoilsport this festive season. In Kashmir, People usually observe Eid-ul-Fitr for two days and the festival begins with congregational prayers in the morning.
The largest Eid prayer congregations in Srinagar are expected at Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake and Jamia mosque in old Srinagar. The managing body of Jamia mosque- Anjuman Auqaf said Eid prayer will be held at 9 am at the grand mosque. After Eid prayers, people extend greetings to their kith and kin. Locals prepare a host of delicacies, mostly non-vegetarian, on the festive occasion.
