subject: Eid preparation keeps valley markets abuzz in Indian Kashmir [print this page] Eid preparation keeps valley markets abuzz in Indian Kashmir
Eid preparation keeps valley markets abuzz in Indian Kashmir
Nazir Ganaie / Waheed Yaseen
Agence India Press
November 14, 2010
Srinagar: A no-strike day in the separatist protest calendar ahead of Eid-ul-Azha next week keeps the city markets abuzz on Sunday in Indian Kashmir.
Markets across the valley remained abuzz. People in huge number were seen shopping for the Eid-ul-Azha. Srinagar- the summer capital wore a festive look particularly Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Batmaloo and old city's Jamia Masjid ahead of Eid-ul-Azha celebrations on Wednesday, next week.
In Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of the summer capital, serpentine queues were witnessed outside almost all the sweets and confectionary shops. Restaurants and shopping molls remained swallowed with the sea of people. Footwear shops, readymade garment outlets have been colorfully decorated by the traders. The huge discount announcement by the readymade garment outlets has also been an added attraction for the Eid shoppers.
Gift shops, also witnessed extraordinary rush as youngsters were choosing gifts and greeting cards for their loved ones as the ban on the pre-paid mobile service has left them with few options.
Unprecedented vehicular traffic causing to the frequent jams. For major part of the day, city roads were choc -bloc with vehicular rush adding to the traffic snarls.
Not only precious time of commuters gets lost courtesy traffic jams, they complain of facing hardships in reaching their respective destinations.
During the afternoon, whole of city centre, Lal Chowk was jammed as hundred of vehicles were stranded. Similar scenes were seen at Rambagh, Jehangir Chowk, Natipora, and Dalgate besides Pantha Chowk Bye-pass.
"We plan to do so many things on normal days but for these traffic jams we can't do much as most of the roads in Srinagar are jammed with vehicles. It wastes our precious time," told Ruhhullah Hassan Mirza of to Agence India Press, adding that it took him more than 30 minutes to travel from residency road to Amira Kadal, which is a normally a 5 minute journey.
Mirza attributes the traffic mess to lack of expertise in traffic police personnel and suggests that the department should train its cops to manage the ever-growing traffic.
"Traffic police department should have made arrangements to manage this day. It was expected that being a normal day traffic is going to more today." Mirza added.
Shopkeepers are having high time to sell off their stock in the relaxed days ahead of Eid.
"We try to sell all of our available stock in this time only. People from far flung areas have been visiting during the relaxed days," Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper said.
"We are praying for the peaceful Kashmir, Kashmir without bloodshed; so that people will move freely breathe in a free atmosphere," he added. (AIP)
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