Lahore’s unique festive spirit

Eid is a festival which is celebrated with religious passion and enthusiasm. The three-day festival is a period of blessings for the people after month-long fasting. Eid is celebrated with a lot of preparation in every part of this country.

Lahore is already famous for its unique celebrations when it comes to festivals. The locals start preparing themselves before the arrival of this colourful festival. They tend to buy new clothes and stuff to look pleasant on the special day.

Every person regardless of their economic class, whether they are affluent, middle-class or of lower-income backgrounds tend to shop for the preparation of Eid festival in full swing according to their budgets. People of all ages including minors, the youth and the elderly, buy clothes and other stuff of their respective choice.

Markets and bazaars have been set up all around Lahore and are functioning in full swing. People are turning to markets according to their own budgets. For people with lower incomes, multiple ‘organic Eid bazaars’ are being set up for this auspicious occasion; these markets are offering stuff at a fair price which is ‘affordable’ for the people.

As Eid approaches, the organic Eid bazaars have been set up in different localities of Lahore city such as Dharampura, Anarkali, Islampura and many other places by local vendors. These organic Eid shopping bazaars offer and provide a wide range of items such as bangles, clothing, shoes, toys, artificial jewelry, bags, make up, readymade clothes for kids and adults, cosmetics, mehndi and many other items which are used and consumed on the special occasion of Eid.

These bazaars offer different qualities of products beside a wide variety of items at a very fair price. As it is apparent, inflation in Pakistan is skyrocketing every single day. In such hard economic conditions, it is very difficult for the people with lower incomes to afford good quality clothes and other stuff for the special festival.

However, these organic Eid bazaars are providing a comfortable environment for the middle class as well people from lower-income backgrounds.

Vendors belonging to different parts and cultures of Lahore and Punjab set up their stalls in these rushing bazaars. The variety and diversity of the items allows the people to choose as per their economic conditions and choice. Different categories of similar items are also available at fluctuating prices from high to low.

This attribute of these Eid bazaars attracts a large number of people belonging to the middle and lower class. These Eid bazaars are a symbol of cultural and social diversity as items and products present on the rows and rows of stalls are from different localities of the Lahore city and province.

People are seen visiting these bazaars with family and friends to buy important cultural accessories for their children and for themselves for the upcoming Eid festival. At nighttime, after Iftar, the bazaar gets crowded with thousands of people flocking to the sites.

Bol News spoke to different visitors present at the crowded Eid bazar to learn more about this year’s market situation and how shopping has evolved this Eid.

Mehwish, 21, while speaking to Bol News stated, “I am very excited to be here; Eid is approaching and I am here to buy clothes besides matching jewellery and bangles for the joyous days. There are a lot of options available in the bazaars from which one can choose from as per their priorities and choices. I also bought a range of makeup kits which will help me look unique as I prepare for the special festival.”

Another visitor named Haris said, “I am here to purchase good quality clothing and shoes for my kids and wife. It’s a very colourful bazaar which offers a variety of stuff and items relevant to the Eid festival. The kids are very joyful to be here. I bought toys and clothes for them. Everyone wants to buy good clothes and stuff for their children and wife on the occasion of Eid. But inflation has risen so much that essential items for Eid preparations are getting out of reach.”

Irum, a mother of four spoke to Bol News and further said that because of Eid, and due to the ‘rush’ hour in tailor shops, the professional tailors are occupied with loads of work and are failing to deliver the stitched clothes on time. So the best option is to go for ready-made clothes for Eid. There are a lot of colourful options available at different stalls and a vast range of readymade clothes for minors as well as for all ages. Due to difficult routines of the people in the city, the customers who arrive here are not able to buy their desired clothes and stuff on time. So sometimes they have to buy readymade clothes for themselves.”

A group of girls spotted by this reporter, applying different motifs of henna on their hands and arms. Speaking to Bol News, they said that Eid preparation ‘is incomplete without applying henna on the hands, arms and feet.’

It is the true essence of celebration of Eid festival, they added.

They further said that they have bought matching jewellery, clothes, shoes, bags along with bangles and make up for Eid preparations.

Different stalls’ vendors expressed their happiness and gratitude to Bol News as the bazaar was immensely crowded with the people. They were of the opinion that it’s a ‘great business opportunity’ for them to earn sustainable profit through this Eid bazaar as these markets ‘significantly’ helped them promote locally produced brands and other commodities.

photos: Mohsin Raza/Bol News