Religious scholars call for boycott as shopping fairs threaten sanctity of Ramzan

Businessmen in Hyderabad are organising month-long Ramzan shopping fairs featuring celebrities and influencers. Religious scholars, however, argue that such events dilute the sanctity of the holy month, urging the community to avoid them.

Hyderabad: With businessmen taking Ramzan shopping to the next level by organising a month-long ‘Ramzan festival fairs’ in the city, religious scholars are urging the community to boycott such events as they believe these fairs diminish the spiritual essence of the holy month.

For the last couple of years, entrepreneurs have been organising shopping fairs at function halls during Ramzan, where social media influencers, television actors and even Bollywood actors are brought in for promotion. Spacious function halls are converted into venues where apparel, footwear, women’s accessories, crockery, and bangles stalls are set up. In addition, the organisers demarcate space for food courts and joy rides.

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“The month of Ramzan is considered sacred and people are encouraged to focus on prayers and seeking forgiveness. Instead, a handful of individuals are organising the ‘Ramzan festival’ along the lines of any other commercial fair, bringing in film stars to promote the event. It is not wrong to conduct business during Ramzan, but turning it into a fashion show is condemnable and people should stay away from such events,” said Mohammed Ilyas Shamsi, Khateeb of Masjid-e-Osmania.

Religious figures point out that during Ramzan, special prayers are held throughout the month. “The holy month is not about shopping or feasting at restaurants and food courts. Devout Muslims should spend more time in prayer and benefit from it,” said Maulana Riyazuddin Naqshbandi, Khateeb of Masjid-e-Ansari.

In previous years, in a bid to outdo their rivals, some organisers invited Bollywood and local actors to conduct shows for the public.

“Last year, there was a shooting incident at an event held at a function hall in Gudimalkapur. Such events damage the spirit of the holy month and disturb the communal peace. Traffic management, fire safety and public security also become issues,” remarked Mohammed Ayub Khan, a social activist, calling for restraint in such fairs.