Sabha Khan
Srinagar, Feb 10: Every year, special occasions like Mehraj-e-Alam, Eid-e-Meelad-un-Nabi (SAW) besides the Urs of four Khalifa’s of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) help hundreds of shopkeepers and street vendors outside the revered shrine of Hazratbal, Srinagar, keep their businesses thriving.
The revered shrine of Hazratbal is a great hope for not just the shopkeepers, street vendors but their family members including children as well.
“Though market is slow but thanks to Almighty, we earn profits and feed our families including our children well,” said Nazir Ahmed Bhat, a shopkeeper outside the Hazratbal shrine. He said that market in the vicinity of the shrine offers a variety of products, including paper machine items, clothes, toys, crockery, religious books, and edibles.
“Whenever there are large gatherings at the shrine, our business blooms,” said Mushtaq Pattan, who runs the clothing business.”
Abid Patthan, who oversees the market, mentioned that usually, the area is bustling with activity, but over the past few years, there has been a noticeable change.
“People from various backgrounds visit here, especially during major events, and engage in a lot of shopping, which helps both vendors and shopkeepers earn a living,” he said. “I am confident that once summer approaches, business will pick up. We are not discouraged by the current lower or moderate turnover as we understand that every business goes through its highs and lows,” he added.
Mushaq Ahmed Dar, a vendor, mentioned that during special occasions, each of them earns a minimum profit of Rs 15,000-20000 a day.
“Winters in Kashmir pose challenges for people like us. The market slows down, but once summer arrives, we experience a significant increase in footfall,” Dar said. “The shrine attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year,” he added.
