With Eid just days away, the shopping spree reached its climax in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday when people thronged shops selling readymade garments, bangles and henna.
In Peshawar, outlets offering traditional bangles and henna were flooded with women and girls with special stalls at major shopping centres, arcades and markets being established for these items alone.
Exchanges of bangles and henna as special gifts among girls on Eidul Fitr is an old tradition in the subcontinent, especially in Peshawar, where buyers, especially girls and students hailing from different districts, could be seen flooding henna and bangles stalls.
Men and boys, on the other hand, were mainly interested in buying Peshawari chappals and ready made kurtas.
Many shopkeepers had set up colourful stalls at main markets including Jinnah Street, Deans Trade Centre, Gora Bazaar in the cantonment, Meena Bazaar, Karimpura, Qissa Khwani and other important locations in Peshawar, offering different kinds of henna, cosmetics, earrings, gleaming bangles, embroidered clothes, jewellery, handbags, shoes and colourful dresses for the much-awaited occasion.
Shopkeepers selling items of daily use and even book sellers have set up additional stalls featuring bangles and henna inside their shops keeping in view girls’ attraction towards these Eid items.
“I have been associated with the bangle business for the last 15 years following the death of my husband and, today, I am very satisfied that I’ve completed their education and marital obligations,” said Jasehat Bibi, a bangle seller in Nowshera.
Imported shiny crystal bangles and henna tattoos from Lahore are hot favourites due to their quality and affordable prices, she said, adding that her business has really taken off due to the overwhelming response from girls and women.
Sidra Bibi, 28, who was busy shopping on Jinnah Street in the Saddar area of Peshawar, said that she had come from Wapda Town to buy bangles and henna for herself, relatives and friends and would come again on ‘Chand Raat’ to decorate her hands with complex henna patterns.
“I have bought twelve sets of bangles and henna and will use them during Eid days to look different,” she said.
“Wearing shimmering glass bangles with beautiful coloured dresses, and adorning hands and feet with henna are essential features of Eid festivities that multiply our joy,” she remarked.
“One can buy a full set of bangles and henna for less than Rs500 although these were available for just Rs150 just two years ago,” she said.
Anaya Khan, 8, who was accompanying her father as they shopped at Deans Centre, said shopping for bangles and henna always doubled her joy on Eid. She said that her sister had already purchased bangles and clothes to avoid the rush on ‘Chand Raat’ and had had her hands decorated by a henna expert.
Henna tattoos are also available in markets that are easy to paste on hands and feet and can be removed easily, she said, adding that young girls admired henna tattoos associated with Eid celebrations.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2024.
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