Sales of prayer-related items bring windfalls to street vendors in Ramazan
People selling rosaries, caps, keffiyeh, attar and prayer mats look forward to Eid shopping
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The sale of prayer caps, rosaries, mats, keffiyeh and other such religious items used by devotees, witnesses a hike during the holy month of Ramazan in the twin cities.
Street vendors have set up shops outside mosques, cashing in on the rush of piety traditionally associated with the month.
Moreover, shops which exclusively sell prayer mats and caps, are swarmed by customers.
The holy month of Ramazan sees droves of Muslims coming to mosques. This annual surge in prayers brings windfalls to people selling prayer mats, rosaries, prayer caps, keffiyeh scarf
The demand and sale of prayer rug or mat used by Muslim devotees during the holy month of Ramazan has gone up all across the country as Muslims engage in increased prayer and charity during the holy month.
To believers around the world and through the ages, a prayer rug or mat is found in every Muslim home and is often a constant travel companion that goes with the worshiper.
“Sales increase during the month of Ramazan because Muslims try to follow Sunnah and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). So, they use miswak (natural toothbrush), attar, prayer caps, rosary and prayer mats,” a shopkeeper Ayan Shahid said. Another shop owner said that Ramazan brings a windfall for them. Ahmed Ali, a customer at one of the stalls, said that he was there to buy new prayer mats.
Khajla, pheni herald the start of Ramazan
"It is customary for us to purchase prayer mats and holy books from stalls outside the mosque every year in Ramazan," Ali said, adding that he prefers thick prayer mats for the long Taraveeh sessions.
The mosques become a hub for sales of prayer related accessories. Many customers said they travel to the market from nearby towns to buy prayer mats in bulk.
A vendor selling religious items outside a mosque said that the holy month of Ramazan brings profit for them. “We are here all twelve months of the year. However, during Ramazan, we have bumper sales as people buy more and use more," he added.
A vendor Musa Ali said the vendors set up their stalls in front of mosques to attract the people going for prayers. "We have a lot of new stock. There is a huge demand for prayer mats and Islamic books. Prayer mats comes in different sizes. There is a tradition of people buying and gifting these to mosques," said another vendor.
Hamid Khan, another shop owner at the Melody Market, said that Ramazan brings a windfall for them.
“I sell caps imported from China, Turkey, and Malaysia and perfume (attars) from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran and even India,” he said adding, “Ours is an exclusive inventory for which people pay good money.”
Natural toothbrush
Miswak, a root used for cleaning teeth, has been sold outside mosques and on sidewalks for ages. However, a new trend has emerged of selling disinfected and packed miswaks.
Hamid said people eagerly buy the packed miswaks with the olive root a top favourite for its herbal benefits.
“We are at the shop around the year. However, it is only during Ramazan that we record bumper sales as people purchase and use more things related to prayers,” he said.
Shopkeeper Muhammad Feroz said that a number of items imported from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries are in high demand and also yield better profits. People buy prayer beads and perfumes as gifts during the holy month.
Accessory
Jalil Ahmed, a rosary maker who sits outside the Lal Masjid sewing wooden beads in threads, says he looks forward to celebrating Eidul Fitr after enjoying a month of good business. Detailing the beads he threads, Ahmed said that his sandalwood prayer beads are quite popular and he received larger than usual orders.
“It gives a different feeling to the fingers, nothing special,” Ahmed said.
Apart from sandalwood, he said rosaries come in plastic and semi-precious stones as well. Ahmed’s spread of prayer beads looks more like fashion accessories.
Ramazan 2018: What to eat and what to avoid
Mohsin Ali, another stall owner, said his sales had been quite impressive.
Rosaries have are particular appeal during Ramazan, he said, adding that they also make for popular gifts.
Ahmed Ali, a customer at one of the stalls, said that he was there to buy new prayer mats.
“It is customary for us to purchase prayer mats and holy books from stalls outside the mosque every year in Ramazan,” Ali said, adding that he prefers thick prayer mats for the long Taraveeh sessions.
Melody Market near Lal Masjid becomes a hub for sales of prayer related accessories. Many customers said they travel to the market from nearby towns to buy prayer caps and mats in bulk.
“Some people buy carpet-runners used in prayer halls of the mosques. They gift these to mosques before the start of Ramazan,” shopkeeper Sajjad Khan said. “Sales go up by 40 to 70 per cent during Ramazan,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2018.
The sale of prayer caps, rosaries, mats, keffiyeh and other such religious items used by devotees, witnesses a hike during the holy month of Ramazan in the twin cities.
Street vendors have set up shops outside mosques, cashing in on the rush of piety traditionally associated with the month.
Moreover, shops which exclusively sell prayer mats and caps, are swarmed by customers.
The holy month of Ramazan sees droves of Muslims coming to mosques. This annual surge in prayers brings windfalls to people selling prayer mats, rosaries, prayer caps, keffiyeh scarf
The demand and sale of prayer rug or mat used by Muslim devotees during the holy month of Ramazan has gone up all across the country as Muslims engage in increased prayer and charity during the holy month.
To believers around the world and through the ages, a prayer rug or mat is found in every Muslim home and is often a constant travel companion that goes with the worshiper.
“Sales increase during the month of Ramazan because Muslims try to follow Sunnah and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). So, they use miswak (natural toothbrush), attar, prayer caps, rosary and prayer mats,” a shopkeeper Ayan Shahid said. Another shop owner said that Ramazan brings a windfall for them. Ahmed Ali, a customer at one of the stalls, said that he was there to buy new prayer mats.
Khajla, pheni herald the start of Ramazan
"It is customary for us to purchase prayer mats and holy books from stalls outside the mosque every year in Ramazan," Ali said, adding that he prefers thick prayer mats for the long Taraveeh sessions.
The mosques become a hub for sales of prayer related accessories. Many customers said they travel to the market from nearby towns to buy prayer mats in bulk.
A vendor selling religious items outside a mosque said that the holy month of Ramazan brings profit for them. “We are here all twelve months of the year. However, during Ramazan, we have bumper sales as people buy more and use more," he added.
A vendor Musa Ali said the vendors set up their stalls in front of mosques to attract the people going for prayers. "We have a lot of new stock. There is a huge demand for prayer mats and Islamic books. Prayer mats comes in different sizes. There is a tradition of people buying and gifting these to mosques," said another vendor.
Hamid Khan, another shop owner at the Melody Market, said that Ramazan brings a windfall for them.
“I sell caps imported from China, Turkey, and Malaysia and perfume (attars) from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran and even India,” he said adding, “Ours is an exclusive inventory for which people pay good money.”
Natural toothbrush
Miswak, a root used for cleaning teeth, has been sold outside mosques and on sidewalks for ages. However, a new trend has emerged of selling disinfected and packed miswaks.
Hamid said people eagerly buy the packed miswaks with the olive root a top favourite for its herbal benefits.
“We are at the shop around the year. However, it is only during Ramazan that we record bumper sales as people purchase and use more things related to prayers,” he said.
Shopkeeper Muhammad Feroz said that a number of items imported from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries are in high demand and also yield better profits. People buy prayer beads and perfumes as gifts during the holy month.
Accessory
Jalil Ahmed, a rosary maker who sits outside the Lal Masjid sewing wooden beads in threads, says he looks forward to celebrating Eidul Fitr after enjoying a month of good business. Detailing the beads he threads, Ahmed said that his sandalwood prayer beads are quite popular and he received larger than usual orders.
“It gives a different feeling to the fingers, nothing special,” Ahmed said.
Apart from sandalwood, he said rosaries come in plastic and semi-precious stones as well. Ahmed’s spread of prayer beads looks more like fashion accessories.
Ramazan 2018: What to eat and what to avoid
Mohsin Ali, another stall owner, said his sales had been quite impressive.
Rosaries have are particular appeal during Ramazan, he said, adding that they also make for popular gifts.
Ahmed Ali, a customer at one of the stalls, said that he was there to buy new prayer mats.
“It is customary for us to purchase prayer mats and holy books from stalls outside the mosque every year in Ramazan,” Ali said, adding that he prefers thick prayer mats for the long Taraveeh sessions.
Melody Market near Lal Masjid becomes a hub for sales of prayer related accessories. Many customers said they travel to the market from nearby towns to buy prayer caps and mats in bulk.
“Some people buy carpet-runners used in prayer halls of the mosques. They gift these to mosques before the start of Ramazan,” shopkeeper Sajjad Khan said. “Sales go up by 40 to 70 per cent during Ramazan,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2018.