No makeshift shops, food hubs this time in Jaipur

JAIPUR: Every year, the Muslim stronghold areas in Ramganj turn into makeshift shopping and foodie hub in the last 10 days of Ramzan. But this year, due to coronavirus, the localities wear a deserted look with barricades all around. The pandemic has not only taken away the sheen of Ramzan but also the business.
Normally, over 500 makeshift shops come up parallel to the shops later in the evening which does business till the wee hours.From dress material for ready-made clothes, shoes to jewellery and from sewiyan to perfumes all are made available in the market for low-income families which constitute the majority of Muslims.
“The only face-saving is that I have ordered nothing this year from Lucknow and Delhi. I don’t think anyone will buy anything this Eid,” said Abdul Gaffar who supplies dress material and ready-made kurta and burqas to the makeshift shopkeepers in Ramganj areas.
Not even the basic vermicelli is available in the market making it difficult for the resident to fulfil the ritual. “Vermicelli is basic thing for households during Eid. I have asked the authorities to provide it along with the ration distribution vehicle,” said Mujahid Naqvi, a social activist of Moti Doongri area.
It is not about makeshift markets biting the dust. Good market like Raja Park, which had become the first choice for middle, upper and rich Muslims in the last few years, has hit by the first biggest loss in the pandemic period.
“Eid is our biggest market as our area is close to Muslim strongholds and they don’t prefer to buy online has made Eid our biggest season. I have started filling my Eid stock from January and have invested lakhs. I was hopeful that the market will open up after the first lockdown, but now we are in the fourth lockdown which means we will not able to open this stock till next year,” said Rajbeer Kharbanda, a shop owner in Raja Park.