Small businesses in glee as Eid funfairs return

Since the dawn of coronavirus in late 2019, it is for the first time that Karachi’s coast is looking clear enough to announce an Eidul Fitr free of restrictions and lockdowns that had become part and parcel of the pandemic life.

As the holy month of fasting draws to its last week, a sense of festivity appears to have gripped the megacity, with various pop-ups, markets, and children’s amusement opportunities propping up across the city. People associated with such trades say that restrictions imposed during the last two years had kept them from doing much business during previous Eids, but they are excited to welcome the return of business this year.

“Karachi has always had this culture of Eid entertainment. Makeshift bazaars for families and small carnivals with street food, Ferris wheels, carousels, and horse and camel rides for children had long been a part of our celebration. However, restrictions against movement and congregational activities during past years had paralysed businesses involved in such setups,” told Rizwan Ahmed, for whom building makeshift funfairs around Eidul Fitr had been a major source of income.

This year, in absence of restrictions, many such businesses have been set up from the 10th of Ramazan, around different parts of the city, in anticipation of Eid. Per Ahmed, the makeshift funfairs require a lot of hard work to establish.

“There are different types of swings and carousels that have to be built. All of that happens in places like Orangi Town, Garden, and Gharbabad. Once built, the structures are then transported to wherever the fair needs to be set up. We charge Rs10 to Rs20 per child for a ride and see a lot of footfall on the eve of Eid and the three days that follow,” he added.

In addition to the funfairs, horse and camel rides are also a common form of entertainment for children during the days of Eid. However, this activity only lives on in the inner parts of the city, other than Karachi’s shoreline nowadays. Nasir, who is involved in the work, said the business of horse and camel riders in sea-side areas decreases during Ramazan.

“That’s why we come to the inner city, where children still enjoy riding horses and camels in the hours between iftar and sehari. We can’t go to posh neighbourhoods and gated societies because they don’t allow us inside, but even if they do, the kids there don’t really play outside like the inner-city and mostly stay indoors,” he told The Express Tribune, adding that he’s excited to make some extra income this Eidul Fitr.