As Id-ul-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of holy Ramzan month is expected to fall on coming Sunday or Monday, the Muslim fraternity is gearing up for celebrations.
While shopping activity in the Old City, where a large population of the community resides, is yet to gain pace, shopping malls in the city are being flocked by people.
Most of the stores are offering pre-GST discounts up to 50% or more and special sales to clear stocks before July 1. This has come as a boon for shoppers.
Besant Road, shopping hub of the common man, has also been witnessing apparel, jewellery and other shopping activity.
“We were informed about the pre-GST offers and have utilised them to shop for the festival a bit early. Usually, we shop garments a day or two before the festival but the offers prompted us to do it early,” said Sk. Abdul Rehman, a government employee.
At One-Town, vermicelli (semiya) is spread on the shops on the roadsides for the Muslim fraternity who make special ‘kheer’ with it. Dry fruits, dates and sweets are already being sold as fasting Muslims consume them during ‘Sahar’ (before dawn) and ‘Iftar’ (after dusk).
However, traders expect a surge in the flow of customers towards the weekend. They say huge spending by parents on education of their children recently had affected early shopping activity.
Id-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on Monday as the crescent moon is to be seen on Sunday night.
There are chances of the crescent moon being sighted on Saturday night and the festival celebrated on Sunday.
