Mosques, shops shut as Valley gears up for sombre Eid amid Covid pandemic

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 27

There is no festive atmosphere in the air as Kashmir valley is all set to have low-key Eid-ul-Adha celebrations amid the Covid-19 lockdown.

Even as marketplaces continued to remain shut since June 12-13 after re-imposition of lockdown, the administration has barred holding of Eid congregations on August 1 in view of the spike in coronavirus cases.

Shopkeepers have little hope of doing good business as markets are expected to open for three days from Tuesday to facilitate Eid shopping.

“What will we sell in three days? On top of that, we do not know if all shops will be allowed to open. Markets would buzz with shoppers at this time of the year ahead of Eid but lockdown has made our lives miserable,” Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) president Aijaz Shahdhar told The Tribune.

“The administration announced one-month advance salary for government employees but there is no plan in place for shopkeepers and small-time traders. We have been left to fend for ourselves,” said Shahdhar.

He said business activities had taken a hit after the lockdown post abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year.

“We have gone through two successive lockdowns during the past one year. The government should focus on implementing Covid-19 related standard operating procedures (SOPs) instead of shutting down markets to control the pandemic,” Shahdhar asserted.

Disallowing Eid congregations as per a government order too has saddened the residents.

“Eid is incomplete without offering congregational prayers in the morning. I think the government could have allowed prayers in large grounds like Eidgah while asking people to maintain physical distancing,” said Rauf Bhat, a local.

“Prayers have resumed in many parts of the world with worshippers maintaining physical distancing,” Bhat pointed.

“All the masjids/shrines shall remain closed for Nimaz. But, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC)/Urban Local Bodies (ULB) shall launch a cleanliness drive at all the mosques/shrines in Srinagar and valley well before Eid-ul-Adha,” read a government order.