Large number of families visit graveyards

Rawalpindi markets witness unusual rush on Chand Raat

RAWALPINDI:

A large number of families visisted 64 cemeteries across the Rawalindi district on the Chaand Raat.

Large numbers of families, women, children, youth and the elderly turned to the graveyards and cleaned and repaired broken graves of their loved ones. The grave makers also had good business.

The gravediggers charged Rs300 to Rs400 for mud-plastering graves and Rs250 for cleaning the cemented graves. Families kept reciting the Holy Quran on the gravesof the departed souls. Flower sellers raised the prices of petals and sheets laid on graves on Eid.

Normal flower petals were priced at Rs450 per kg. A normal grave sheet costs Rs250, a medium quality sheet costs Rs350 and a good sheet costs Rs 850. The price of a special sheet is Rs1,000 and a sheet of fresh flowers is Rs1,200.

Incense sticks are available for Rs250 per packet and rose water is being sold at Rs150 per bottle.

Hundreds of temporary flower petal stalls have been set up around all cemeteries and in all small and big bazaars. These stalls will last for three days.

Meanwhile, the city’s markets witnessed the usual rush on the day before Eidul Fitr on Monday.

The stalls of cosmetic, henna and bangles, most sought after items for Eidul Fitr, had been set up everywhere particularly in busy markets and bazaars of the city as Eid shopping remained in full swing and reached its peak.

here was shopping frenzy in the markets of the twin cities where shops and stalls are open till early hours.

A festive environment in shopping was noticed at the busy markets including, Tench Bhatta, Saddar, Lalkurti, Moti Bazar, Commercial Market and several other markets of the garrison town.

Similarly the major markets of the capital witnessed huge rush of people especially youngsters and children who are eager to complete their shopping before Chand Raat.

The vendors have set up various stalls of bangles, jewellery, henna and other stuff in the main markets including Super, Jinnah Super, Aabpara and Karachi Company to attract the customers.

Different fashion brands and boutiques have displayed an exquisite variety of fabrics offering different price ranges according to the affordability of the customers.

Children and women were more enthusiastic in choosing new and unique design clothes to wear on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. The rush of customers at the shopping centres continued till closing of the shops late night.

Despite special arrangements of City Traffic Police to avoid congestion in busy markets, traffic remained choked in the markets due to sheer lack of traffic sense and overall trend of law breaking. Retail prices of children, men’s and women’s wear, both local and foreign, rose by 20 to 30 per cent than the previous year.

Markets had been decorated with some of their gates being illuminated with coloured neon signs. The buyers mostly middle class were found moving from shop to shop asking prices of goods.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2022.