LAHORE: Even soaring prices could not harness the joy of the public as markets were crowded with chattering men and women and giggling children. ‘Chaand Raat’ as always had people rushing in and out of malls, and arcades of Gulberg and Defence, while the narrow streets of places like Icchra and Anarkali were never deserted even for one second.
Hawkers cried out with good bargains for busy haggling women, while their husbands admired themselves proudly in shop mirrors, ascertaining how they looked wearing the new shalwar kameez.
Market places especially in mainstream points in the city like Panorama, Madina Market and Moon Market teemed with customers, while smaller places like Khalid Market and other less known places also attracted those who wanted to avoid the traffic and a larger crowd. Traffic management once again presented a large problem, as crossing at the Defence Y Block experienced jams.
One of the worst hit roads was Model Town Link Road, where people had to wait for several minutes only to find parking. “My father is in a terrible mood since we came as our car has been stuck in a traffic jam,” says Tanzeela, a shopper.
“But the rest of the family made him come,” she grins. Meanwhile, young girls, especially children were seen in almost every market place in the city, spreading their hands out as women adeptly drew intricate patterns on their palms.
Others were content just buying bangles to go with their new clothes. “We don’t usually buy or stitch new clothes for this Eid, because we end up in the kitchen cleaning sacrificial meat,” says Nasreen, a housewife. “But bangles are a different thing.
They just somehow make you feel better,” she says, clinking some on her wrist as if to demonstrate.
Others were sad as they could not manage time to meet relatives at their villages. “I wanted to meet my parents in Multan, especially after the floods have hit this year,” says Farzana.
“But my husband didn’t get a leave from his job for more than two days.” “I think that I might be able to go soon, but it would have been nice to be together at Eid,” says Nadeem. “I wish all my relatives a happy Eid.”
And when Eid was only a night away…
