Ramzan shopping picks up early in Hyderabad’s Old City markets

Shopping activity is picking up early in Hyderabad’s Old City as residents prepare for Ramzan. Many shoppers are completing their purchases in advance to devote more time to prayers during the holy month, prompting traders and vendors to stock up across major markets.

Hyderabad: With just a few weeks left for the Hijri calendar month of Ramzan, the shopping activity is slowly picking up in the older parts of the city.

The traders across all the markets, including the Pathergatti, Khilwat market, Devan Devdi, Rikabgunj, Patel market, Madina Building, Moosa Bowli and Ghansi Bazaar have already stocked up new merchandise for the festive shopping ahead.

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In a changing trend, people with an objective to spend more time towards prayers in Ramzan are doing shopping for the festival before the commencement of month considered holy.

“In the last few years, we have seen an increase in Ramzan shoppers in the Hijri month of Shabaan. People who are more religious complete the festival shopping before Ramzan and engage themselves in religious activities,” said Mohammed Akbar, a garments store owner at Pathergatti.

In the evenings, the markets are already bustling with hectic activity. “Traders have stocked up on the latest merchandise. The prices are also modest due to high number of stores and tough competition in the market,” said Shakeer Hussain, owner of a traditional wear store at Madina Building.

The small-time traders who set up the stalls on the roadsides, too, have geared up for the festival. “We had placed orders with the suppliers. By the first week of February, the stalls will be replenished,” said Mateen Ahmed, a trader.

There are roughly 5,000 shops in and around the Charminar and Madina Building selling bangles, women’s, men’s and children’s ethnic and modern wear, footwear, embroidered and designer sarees, abayas, both traditional and designer, pearls, crockery, and other household articles.