It may be a cattle market, but only sheep, decorated and painted in multiple colours, are on offer for Id-ul-Adha.
The largest cattle market in the Eidgah area in Srinagar, spread over four hectares here, has not stocked any cattle — not because of the controversial beef ban in the State but because sheep is the sacrificial animal for the festival and people have decided to follow tradition. Buyers pick the sacrificial animal by weight, sex and age. Male sheep are preferred. Long lines of goods carriers laden with sheep wait near the market.
“Festivals are no occasion to enter into a political battle with opponents. I am buying three sheep for my three children and will sacrifice them as per Islamic teachings to remember Allah and feed the poor. My only politics is that no poor should go without meals,” says Syed Adil Shah while haggling over the price.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, on September 10, directed the police to enforce a ban on the slaughter of bovines and sale of beef in the Muslim-majority State. The court directive, in response to a public interest litigation petition filed by right-wing parties, evoked a sharp response from the Valley-based political parties and separatists. A few separatists have called for a sacrifice of bovines on the occasion as a mark of protest.
Manzoor Ahmad Qanoon, president of the Wholesale Mutton Dealers’ Association, said 30,000 sacrificial animals, only sheep and goat, estimated at Rs. 27 crore had been sold in the main cattle markets of Eidgah, Rainawari, Bohri Kadal, Hazratbal and Safakadal here.
“There has been no demand from customers for bovines during Eid. We have transported only sheep from outside. No market in Srinagar is selling cows and oxen,” he said.
Srinagar is set to consume mutton estimated at Rs. 9 crore this Eid, besides the sacrificial sheep, with shopkeepers procuring 6,500 sheep.
“Sacrificing a bovine has never been a tradition in the urban pockets of the Valley. Only in poor rural pockets, people who could not afford sheep would for a cost benefit, sacrifice a bovine,” said Mr Qanoon.
Peace messageIn a special Eid message, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of a Hurriyat faction, asked people “not to hurt the sentiments of any community”.
“It [any sacrifice on Eid] should not be done to show anybody down,” he said.
The message of Mr. Geelani, who holds sway among a significant section of people, is bound to quell anger against the beef ban.
“Beef is halal for us. No power in the world can stop us from its use. However, while sacrificing animals on the occasion, a dignified attitude and approach should be adopted,” he said.
He accused right-wing parties of “creating a hostile atmosphere in the Jammu region”.
“Some fanatic communal elements are preparing the ground for communal violence on the occasion of Eid. I appeal to the Hindu brothers not to fall into the snare of the Shiv Sena and other allied parties of the Sangh Parivar and maintain the communal brotherhood at any cost,” said Mr. Geelani.
