Mosques, shops shut; Kashmir Valley in for sombre Eid

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.

Marketplaces continue to remain shut since June 12-13 after the reimposition of the lockdown. The divisional administration has barred the 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 tomorrow to facilitate Eid shopping.

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

He said business activities had taken a hit after the lockdown after the 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-related standard operating procedures instead of shutting down markets to control the pandemic,” he said. — TNS