Shoppers, store owners struggle to keep up with Ramzan shopping

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 23

Even as markets continue to wear a deserted look due to the Covid-19 lockdown, it is becoming difficult for both store owners to keep their shops open and shoppers to shop for Ramzan.

The fasting month is all set to start from Saturday when the markets usually wear a festive look days before the beginning of Ramzan.

“Though essentials are available, people like to eat various delicacies for ‘iftaar’. Unfortunately, we are unable to cater to the demands of the customers due to the lockdown. Wholesalers usually supply goods to our shops, but this is not happening these days. It is not easy for us to reach the wholesalers either. And I can hardly keep my shop open for an hour or so in the morning,” said M Ashraf, a shopkeeper in uptown Srinagar.

He said the customers were asking for good quality dates but they were unable to procure these.

Arfa, a housewife, said they would be eating simple food this Ramzan.

“In Ramzan, we usually cook many varieties of lamb meat, but unfortunately mutton is not available for the past many weeks. We ordered other items to make sweet dishes and other stuff from a nearby store that home delivers….but all items are not available. This Ramzan will pass indoors and we will eat simple food during ‘sehri’ and ‘iftaar’. It is difficult to make children understand that they will not get all delicacies this Ramzan,” she said.

Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) president Aijaz Shahdhar said it would not be possible for the shopkeepers to provide all desired items to their customers during the lockdown.

“Even all shopkeepers are not allowed to keep their shops open and on top of that, free movement is not possible. A few stores have been designated for home deliveries, but they cannot cater to every demand of the entire population,” said Shahdhar.

He also said they had issued an appeal to the people to look after the needy in their respective areas.