Business soars in the month of mourning

Everyone, including small stalls, caterers and tailors, gets into the act.

KARACHI: As throngs of devotees head towards imambargahs across the country, business is picking up for scores of small shops set up inside these premises. However, stall owners say that the motivation behind these businesses extends beyond the bottom-line.

“Taburrakat bech kar hum masoomin ki yaad ko taza rakhne mein kirdar ataa karte hain (We play a role in reviving the memory of the masoomin by selling commemorative ornaments),” said Talib Raza. Raza operates a stall inside Imambargah Yathrib selling everything from audio cassettes and video CDs to rings, necklaces and other ornaments.

Raza explained that he sets up his stall on Fridays throughout the year but during Muharram the shop is open daily. “During Muharram the number of people increase and since their interest is much higher, sales surge,” he explained.

Owner of a stall selling religious and inspirational books Shakeel Abbas and his two sons having barely any time to talk as they attend to customers said “I have run this stall for the past 20 years, even before the actual structure of the Imambargah was built,” Abbas proudly proclaimed.

An employee at a local publishing house, Abbas was introduced to the idea of establishing a stall of books here by Maulana Razi Hyder. Abbas said that besides providing supplemental income for his family, this stall helps him further gain knowledge of his faith without incurring additional expenses. Being an avid reader of these texts himself, he recalled some of the most popular titles Message, Peak of Elegance, Peshawar Nights, Guided. “I feel like I am preaching and promoting my religion through this stall,” he said, adding that “the level of satisfaction I derive from this work goes way beyond the money we earn from it”.

A token of respect

“We do not cater for parties during the month of Muharram,” said Mohammad Nawaz, the owner of a large catering company in Karachi. Nawaz explained that even though New Year’s Eve is usually a good time for the catering business, many caterers do not rent out their equipment when the turn of the Gregorian calendar falls in the month of mourning. “Demand for rental furniture and catering is already high because many people host majalis in their homes,” he said, adding that “my company never caters for parties during the days of mourning”.

Other businesses also pick up during this time of the Islamic year. No sooner have tailors finished their orders for Eid do they get busy on more sombre attire for Muharram. However, a significant proportion of the additional labour required for the facilitation of processions and congregations is done by volunteers. Various scout organizations along with students from schools and colleges make time to help out wherever they can. Ascertaining the actual amount of money being spent on relevant items during the month of mourning is an uphill task, as is evaluating the level of employment generation through associated activities. Perhaps Shakeel, the book vendor summed up the situation adequately when he said, “Money matters very little, in matters of faith.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2010.