Sabzibagh comes alive with Eid shoppers

PATNA: The lanes and bylanes of Sabzibagh and Patna Market nowadays are buzzing with activity not only during daytime but also after dark. With the last Friday of the Ramzan gone, almost all the members of the Muslim community seem to descend in the congested lanes of the two markets for Eid shopping.

One can spot young boys and men buying 'itra' or perfumes of their choice and sewai 'lacchhas' at Sabzibagh. "The customers generally come in late evening after breaking fast and offering namaz," said Fakhruddin, who sells varieties of sewai 'lacchhas' in the market.

Sewai 'lacchhas' range from Rs 70 to Rs 280 depending upon the material used to fry them. "Sewai fried in Dalda is priced at Rs 70 a kg, that in refined oil at Rs 140 while 'ghee wala sewai' is the most expensive," Fakhruddin said and added the price will shoot up once the 'Chandraat' comes close.

Besides sewai, 'itra' too is selling like hot cakes. A large variety of perfumes right from alcohol-free to 'itra', specially imported from Arab countries for the pious occasion, can be found here.

"Opal' and 'Dark Temptation' are the new arrivals among perfumes while most opt for traditional ones such as 'Jannat-ul Firdaus'," said M H Hoda, a shopowner. Perfumes ranging from Rs 40 to Rs 1,500 can be found in his shop. Also, attractive glass itra cases are in great demand here.

Other than sewai and itra, beautiful attires pull a large section of Muslims from across the city to this part of the city. A resident of Anisabad, Aisha Khan, was spotted selecting bangles matching with the salwaar suit she has bought for her six-year-old daughter. "I may shop at other markets for the rest of the year, but for Eid shopping I throng Patna Market only," Aisha told TOI. Patna Market is the shoppers stop, especially during Eid, for the likes of Aisha as well as her husband Naushad, who flocked the market to grab designer sherwani and pairs of Kolhapuri chappals and designer 'nagraas' to go with their traditional attire.

Rabbani Bhai's emporium at Patna Market serves the demands of both men and women who seek to add to their class with the richness of Lucknow Chicken fabric. "Salwaar Kurta ranging from Rs 450 to Rs 4000 is available here and women, these days, seek dress materials with dark colours. Designer kurta pyjamas priced from Rs 2200 to 3500 are mostly picked by men," said Mohammad Gulam Quaish.

Whereas young girls go for 'Lucknowee' kurtis, both short and long, to pair up with leggings or Patiala salwaar, glittering sherwanis and salwaar kurtas are in for kids this year.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/n5z9e5u