Hawzah News Agency (Islamabad, Pakistan) - Eid-ul-Fitr is the Islamic festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims all over the world fast during the days and make special prayers at night.
Pakistan has an estimated population of 200 million and about 95-98% of Pakistanis are Muslims thus Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr are a very special occasion for them.
Eid is not only a one day show in Pakistan. The festivities continue for many days. The entire aura is filled with jubilations.
As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches shopping malls and traditional markets in Pakistan are bustling with shoppers from all walks of life.
Families are spending their time dealing with the merchants and visiting shops to get preferred items of readymade garments, bangles and others, while artificial jewelry sections is also creating its place in the markets.
In Pakistan men usually wear simple traditional clothes for Eid whereas women and girls wear colorful clothes with bangles.
People start coming to shops soon after Iftari and busy in doing shopping even uptill Sehri. Many shops and clothing brands have announced special discounts on the occasion of Eid.
Shopkeepers have illuminated their shops and stalls with multi-colored lights and put up other decorations to attract people. Many people also like to go to Eid bazaars to enjoy the festive environment.
The young girls are very much interested in buying matching bangles with the colors of their eid dresses, while many of them are rushing towards mehndi stalls to embellish their hands before the arrival of the religious festival, Eid-ul-Fitr.
Besides this, a wide range of curtains and decorative cushions are also available to decorate homes for Eid.
The buying spree is likely to continue till the last day of the holy Ramadan. The shopkeepers in these areas say that they expect this shopping frenzy to increase even further in the last week of Ramadan.
Special security arrangements have also been placed in the entire country to avert any untoward incident during Ramadan or on Eid-ul-Fitr.
The government of Pakistan has announced that Holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed from June 15 to June 18.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) says Eid-ul -Fitr is likely to be celebrated on June 16 across Pakistan.
Meanwhile Pakistan Railways have announced to run five special trains on Eid-ul-Fitr across the country to extend maximum facilities to passengers so that they can spend the Islamic festival with their near and dear ones.
Pakistan Railways has already announced 30 percent discount on railway fares to facilitate passengers on first and second day of Eid-ul-Fitr.