Hyderabad: With Ramadan in its last Ashra or ten days, the zeal for prayers is only matched by the zest for Eid shopping.
Eid is celebrated with great gaiety and merriment by the nearly five million Muslims in Hyderabad.
Preparations have reached a frenzied pace — especially around the historic Charminar — with thousands thronging to the famous Patthargatti street soon after Taraweeh or special prayers.
“It is just not for shopping. We all look forward to these last days of Ramadan for a night out with our family. Definitely we buy merchandise but we also enjoy walking around, window shopping and most importantly eating,” says Shadab Farheen, a graduation student, said.
Though Hyderabad has witnessed a boom in the number of sprawling malls and show rooms — with several new shopping centres in Toli Chowki and Ameerpet, and Punjagutta — the Madina-Charminar stretch, specially Patthargatti and Laad Bazar retains its charm.
Thousands of hawkers with their push carts descend on the roads occupying every inch of available space.
With traffic at its peak, authorities are often forced to close the road for vehicular traffic. An estimated 6,000 vendors do roaring business in and around the Charminar area during the last few days of Ramadan.
“You can easily say this is a Bazaar for all the people irrespective of their buying power,” Rahmatulla Muneer, a reputed textile merchant in the area, said.
“You can buy goods for five rupees to five hundred thousand rupees...,” he added.
The most striking feature of this sea of humanity on the roads during the Eid shopping is the presence of women in burqas or veils.
“I am shocked. You will not find so many Burqa-clad women in entire Pakistan as you see on this one road,” Rafeeq Ahmad, a visiting Pakistani friend tells the writer as he makes way through the milling crowds in the bustling market.
Rafeeq says the illuminated hoardings in beautiful Urdu script, the architecture and the people remind him of Lahore.
Founded by Qutub Shahis, the historic Laad Bazar, a street of glittering row of Bangles’ shops, is as old as the city itself. The bustling street facing the western side of Charminar, has been a part and parcel of Hyderabad’s identity and culture and its business reaches its zenith only twice, once during the wedding season and during last week of Ramadan. Laad Bazar is also the best place for bargains.
Mushrooming beauty parlors have also become a must for these preparations as more and more middle class women head to get their hands and feet decorated with hena (Mehndi) on the eve of the Eid.
Eid preparations cannot be complete with out shopping for food. While Mutton and Chicken Biryanis, Korma, Kababs and innumerable other dishes are prepared on Eid day, the dessert and sweets command the centre stage.
Roasted vermicelli or Sewiyan are a must on the shopping list as ladies of the House prepare the unique sweet dishes like Sheer Khorma, a much relished delicacy prepared with milk, vermicelli and dry fruit and Muzaafar made of vermicelli with dry fruits. Many Hyderabadi households also go for other two traditional sweet dishes- Khubani Ka Meetha and Double ke Meetha on the Eid day.
A reflection of the mood Eid shopping can be seen in city’s leading Urdu newspapers, the main medium of communication for Muslim community with almost 80% of space occupied by the colorful advertisement of clothing and dresses, women’s apparel, furnishing and jewelry, perfumes and shoes, offering discounts on various brands.
Perhaps all these sights, sounds, colours and aromas have made Hyderabad a city of eternal celebrations for more than four hundred years.
