Special jewellery: Sacrificial animals get decked up for Eidul Azha
Decorations for animals remain popular at stalls in and around cattle markets
Sacrificial animals are decorated with bright, attractive and sharp coloured jewellery, available all over the city. PHOTOS: HUMA CHAUDHARY/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
With Eidul Azha festivities in full swing, one cannot help but notice cattle markets all over. There is a festive buzz in air and everyone is gearing up for lots of shopping and feasting. It is a different kind of festival because of the feast of sacrifice. Gone are the days when Eid would just mean dressing up for people. Today even the animal is decorated with jewellery, available all over the city.
Traditional decoration pieces are brought from cities like Multan, Sahiwal, Lahore and interior Sindh to Islamabad and placed at stalls in and around cattle markets. “I have been selling animal jewellery for the past 10 years. Every year around Eidul Azha, I come to the capital with a few friends who are animal vendors. We set up our stalls together,” said Amanat, a vendor.
He further told The Express Tribune that when he got in the business, there were a very few animal jewellery vendors, but there is much more competition now.
Vendors place themselves close to cattle markets. Their sales are slow in the beginning, but begin to rise when Eidul Azha approaches.
The pieces are bright, attractive and sharp coloured, and especially designed for goats, sheep, cattle and camels. “A layman might not understand, but there is difference between the jewellery for cows and sheep,” said Siddique Ahmad, who came from Multan to sell animal jewellery in Islamabad. He further told The Express Tribune that price ranges can vary greatly.
“A pair of anklets for a goat sells for Rs150 to Rs300, whereas, cowbells start at Rs150 and can go up to Rs350. The most expensive items are garlands of beads, which can cost as much as Rs500,” he said.
When asked whether people spend significant amount of money on animal jewellery, he said it all depends on the customer. “Most men who bring children to buy animals end up buying jewellery as well,” said Ahmad.
Farooq, a shopper, complained that ever since demand for decorative items increased, prices have also risen. “The moment these vendors see a child insisting on a particular piece of jewellery, they raise its price and refuse to bargain,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2015.
With Eidul Azha festivities in full swing, one cannot help but notice cattle markets all over. There is a festive buzz in air and everyone is gearing up for lots of shopping and feasting. It is a different kind of festival because of the feast of sacrifice. Gone are the days when Eid would just mean dressing up for people. Today even the animal is decorated with jewellery, available all over the city.
Traditional decoration pieces are brought from cities like Multan, Sahiwal, Lahore and interior Sindh to Islamabad and placed at stalls in and around cattle markets. “I have been selling animal jewellery for the past 10 years. Every year around Eidul Azha, I come to the capital with a few friends who are animal vendors. We set up our stalls together,” said Amanat, a vendor.
He further told The Express Tribune that when he got in the business, there were a very few animal jewellery vendors, but there is much more competition now.
Vendors place themselves close to cattle markets. Their sales are slow in the beginning, but begin to rise when Eidul Azha approaches.
The pieces are bright, attractive and sharp coloured, and especially designed for goats, sheep, cattle and camels. “A layman might not understand, but there is difference between the jewellery for cows and sheep,” said Siddique Ahmad, who came from Multan to sell animal jewellery in Islamabad. He further told The Express Tribune that price ranges can vary greatly.
“A pair of anklets for a goat sells for Rs150 to Rs300, whereas, cowbells start at Rs150 and can go up to Rs350. The most expensive items are garlands of beads, which can cost as much as Rs500,” he said.
When asked whether people spend significant amount of money on animal jewellery, he said it all depends on the customer. “Most men who bring children to buy animals end up buying jewellery as well,” said Ahmad.
Farooq, a shopper, complained that ever since demand for decorative items increased, prices have also risen. “The moment these vendors see a child insisting on a particular piece of jewellery, they raise its price and refuse to bargain,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2015.