Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jun 12: Just a few days left for Eid-ul-Adha, no hustle and bustle has been witnessed in the markets across Srinagar and elsewhere, pushing the shopkeepers to face huge losses.
Usually, the days leading to Eid are marked by a flurry of activity in markets across Kashmir, with artisans and vendors displaying their finest goods to cater to the festive demand. However, this year, the situation is starkly different.
The silence from the side of shoppers, attributed to various factors including economic uncertainties, logistical challenges, and “online shopping” that has left many shopkeepers grappling with dwindling stock and uncertain prospects for the festive season.
“It’s like the soul has been sucked out of the market,” laments Mohammad, a shopkeeper in Srinagar’s renowned Lal Chowk. He added that normally, by this time, they would be struggling to keep up with the demand, but this time, it feels like just waiting for customers to walk through the door.
“Before Eid, we usually depend on sales to get through slower months, but this time has been really hard,” says Faheem, a downtown Srinagar shopkeeper. “With no customer rush, we have to keep our stock within limits and wait for it to be sold out, before we can buy new,” he added.
Pertinently, the subdued atmosphere in the markets has not gone unnoticed by shoppers, many of whom are expressing disappointment at the lack of variety and choices available to them this Eid.
