Ranchi Gears Up to Celebrate Eid
With only a few days left for the holy month of Ramadan to get over, markets in Ranchi have suddenly become the hub of all activities. If you take a stroll down the main road in the evenings, you'll find yourself being engulfed by an excited crowd shopping for Eid, buying colourful skullcaps, designerwear, food items et al. The shop owners too are trying their best to fulfil the demands of their customers
TOI captures what's new and happening this season
With only a few days left for the holy month of Ramadan to get over, markets in Ranchi have suddenly become the hub of all activities. If you take a stroll down the main road in the evenings, you'll find yourself being engulfed by an excited crowd shopping for Eid, buying colourful skullcaps, designerwear, food items et al. The shop owners too are trying their best to fulfil the demands of their customers.
The special Eid delicacies like dates, sewai etc and lifestyle products like attar and surma, available in the market mostly in the holy month of Ramadan, are in great demand ¡ª both among Muslims and other communities. The dates imported during this time are relatively better than what we get during the rest of the year. Since my children like dates, which are high on nutrition value as well, I try to stock up as many as I can during this season," says Sunita Sinha, a housewife.
The shop owners also concur. "Though we have Indian varieties of dates in stock thoughout the year, the demand for imported variety of dates such as Zahedi, Ajwa and Medjool peaks during Ramadan ¡ª so much so that the market is under pressure to fulfil the demand," informs Mohd Afzal Ansari, owner of a prominent bakery shop.
Though shopping, while scouring the narrow alleys and posh showrooms, has its own charm, there are an increasing number of young shoppers who are taking to internet to shop this Eid. "The market becomes so chaotic during Ramadan that I prefer to shop on the net. I have ordered new clothing and accessories for myself and my family from various e-commerce websites. Tt becomes less taxing that way, since we fast the whole day," says Rafat Naaz, a fashion designing faculty.
Nazia Khan, MCom student at Marwari College, also supports the trend. "Why should I go to the market when I can buy the same online? I have ordered quite a few dresses like Abayas and long Anarkalis from a popular website and that too at a discounted rate," says Nazia.
Iftar parties are also turning big this season. Various institutions and individuals are hosting Iftar parties for their friends from all walks of life. "Ramadan has always been an occasion to promote bonding between all communities. Hence, inviting our friends from different communities to the iftaar table gives us an occasion to promote solidarity and preserve the cultural fabric of Ranchi," says Taufique Khan, a businessman.
