Srinagar: As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, markets across Kashmir that typically brim with eager buyers and bleating animals are unusually subdued this year. A sharp economic downturn is dampening the festive mood, with both traders and buyers struggling under the weight of financial pressure.
From Srinagar’s Eidgah to the markets of Anantnag, Pulwama, and Baramulla, the usual pre-Eid rush is noticeably absent. Rows of unsold sheep, goats, and cattle stand tethered, while sellers wait anxiously for customers who are few and far between.
“By this time last year, my stock was nearly sold out. Now I’ve only managed to sell a handful,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a livestock dealer from Pulwama. Like many others, he had invested heavily, anticipating brisk business ahead of the religious festival.
Ghulam Nabi, who runs a stall in Srinagar’s Eidgah Market, said the decline in footfall is evident. “People are cutting back. Inflation and lack of employment have left many families struggling just to meet basic needs,” he said. “They can’t think of spending Rs 20,000 or more on sacrificial animals right now.”
Buyers echoed similar concerns. “We are managing with difficulty. School fees, rent, groceries—it all adds up. Buying an animal is simply out of reach this year,” said Bashir Ahmad, a father of three from Baramulla.
Still, some sellers are cautiously optimistic that the final days before Eid may bring a modest spike in sales. “People often wait until the last moment to buy. That’s our only hope now,” said Mushtaq Lone, a seasoned animal trader from Ganderbal.
But even that hope is laced with uncertainty. “If things don’t pick up, we’ll have no choice but to lower prices or absorb heavy losses,” said another seller in Budgam.
The broader economic challenges in the Valley, declining tourism, unemployment, and rising living costs, are casting a long shadow over what is traditionally a season of high trade and community celebration. For many families this year, fulfilling the religious obligation of Qurbani may remain just out of reach. [KNT]
