With the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the sale of traditional rosaries, prayer mats and religious headgear are on the rise in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. People thronged the markets ahead of the holy month, purchasing essentials as well as other festive products. Ahmed Rafiq, who has set up businesses adjacent to the Lal Masjid said, “We put up the stalls form Monday and lots of people have come to buy commodities. In the past two days, the sales have gone through the roof.” In the month of Ramazan the rosaries sell particularly well with sales in the millions of rupees. “Every year the demand goes up,” says Mohsin Ali, a rosary-seller. “We import them from all over the world, from places such as Belgium, Italy, Russia, Thailand, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Greece and Eastern European countries,” said the retailer. A shopkeeper, Siraj Khan said, “We have a huge stock. There is massive demand for rosaries and Islamic literature.” Prayer mats are also in high demand. Sayeed Hussain, a student said, “The religious fervor among people peaks during the holy month and people usually buy all they can from one trader, there’s so much demand its crazy.”