Forgoing barbecues this Bakra Eid

Vendors report lack of BBQ equipment sales as residents prepare for socially distanced Eidul Azha

ISLAMABAD:

Until last year, it would have been impossible for many to imagine Eidul Azha celebrations without barbecue parties. As always, the most enthusiastic of people would stock up on coal, grills and skewers weeks before the holiday. By the third day of Eid, most parks and open-air spaces in the city would be filled to the brim with people hosting cookouts and friends and families bonding over grilled meat. However, this year, while the pandemic threat still looms and the country tries to adjust to the new normal, Eid barbecues may be missed on the twin cities’ agendas.

“It has always been a tradition of ours to gather at our family home in Rawalpindi and celebrate Eid with our grandparents and rest of the extended family. On the third day, we would host a little barbeque in the front lawn and all my cousins would lend a hand in the preparations. Some would cut the meat, while others would marinate it, but I would always be required to handle the grill,” said Sabeeh, a resident of Islamabad. “We are not doing any of that this year. Our grandparents are old and susceptible to the virus, so we have decided to stay at our own homes and rather exchange greetings on video call. It’s safer that way,” he added.

BBQ Tonight: From roadside to countrywide

On the other hand, according to Rizwan Shehzad, a trader who deals in barbecue equipment and grilling utensils, the virus scare has severely affected his business this season. “There is not a lot of demand for barbecue equipment like iron skewers, coal, and cooking grills on regular days. The demand only surges once a year during Eidul Azha, but business has been extremely slow this year because of coronavirus,” he lamented. As per market details, a traditional charcoal barbecue grill costs approximately Rs500 for a two-feet setup while bigger grills can range between Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 per unit. Similarly, iron skewers, depending on their quality, can cost anywhere between Rs500 to Rs3,000 for a set. These equipment are most popular during Eid season and imported especially from Gujranwala and Sialkot, for sale in the capital.

Alternatively, clay-coated pure iron ovens, which can cost between Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 and last much longer than small grills, also find a market around this time of the year. These are permanent setups which are made to order and need to be carefully installed by skilled craftsmen.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2020.