Women throng bazaars for last-minute Eid shopping

Females especially students and young girls thronged the bustling markets of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to buy bangles, henna (Mehndi) and artificial jewellery on the expected Chand Raat on Tuesday. Shopkeepers displayed a variety of items at all small and large markets and bazaars to woe customers.

To cater to the interests of women, the streets, neighbourhoods, and small markets of both cities were embellished with bangles, henna, and jewellery stalls. Many women and girls flocked to the henna stalls where skilled women were employed to apply intricate henna designs.

A significant number of women and young girls left their houses on the expected moon night solely to purchase bangles and adorn their hands with henna. Women patiently waited for their turn, while larger shops issued tokens and offered phone bookings to manage the crowd. Some shops even requested Easy Paisa fees for these reservations for Mehndi.

From moon night till morning, the bangle shops experienced an overwhelming surge of customers. The shopkeepers had beautifully decorated the henna and bangle stalls. Bright flags, colourful electric lamps, and vivid lights transformed the shops and stalls, making it seem like daytime in the middle of the night.

Taking undue advantage of religious festivity, sellers as usual overcharged customers for bangles, henna, and artificial jewellery. High-quality bangles were being sold for Rs2,500 per set, while the price range for regular bangles’ sets was between Rs700 and Rs1,800.

The cost of artificial jewellery had increased by 30% compared to the previous year. Moti Bazaar, a 124-year-old shopping centre exclusively for women, witnessed an unprecedented surge in the sales of bangles, henna, and artificial jewellery at its various shops and stalls. The bangle shops in Moti Bazaar remained open from 9am on Tuesday to 7am on Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2024.