UNI
Srinagar, June 5: With just two days to go for Eid-ul-Adha, markets across Kashmir buzzed with activity on Thursday as shoppers thronged commercial hubs for last-minute festive purchases.
Eid-ul-Adha, which is being celebrated on Saturday, is one of the two major Muslim festivals. It is observed by sacrificing an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and by offering congregational prayers.
Traders are expecting an uptick in business after a sluggish period. “Over the last one week, business was slow. But the rush picked up from Wednesday, and we are expecting a significant jump in sales,” said Javid Tenga, president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). “We will be able to assess the overall business volume by Friday evening.”
However, traders dealing in sacrificial animals reported a dip in sales this year.
“I used to sell around a hundred sheep every Eid. This time, we have sold quite less. There is no usual rush,” said Ali Mohammad, a livestock seller in Srinagar.
Another trader noted a shift in buyer preferences toward healthier breeds, with many opting for non-local sheep imported from Rajasthan, Delhi, and other states due to their higher meat yield and thinner hides – making them more suitable for sacrifice.
Prices of sacrificial animals ranged between Rs 340 and Rs 450 per kilogram. Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Rafiq Ahmed Shah said there are less number of takers for the sacrificial animal this year.
Markets come alive in Kashmir as Eid-ul-Adha draws near
