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Dhaka day by day

Shopping Frenzy before Eid

by Lavina Ambreen Ahmed
Even an avid shopper thinks twice before going shopping during Eid season. The inevitable traffic jam on the way to the market, the "human" Jam at the shops, the devious pickpockets, the hysterical shoppers the reasons are innumerable. Yet, come Eid the average Dhaka dweller finds himself or mostly herself, heading shopwards anyway. What induces vou to break your last year's solemn vow to finish Eid shopping two months before Eid? Lack of will power? Most definitely notl Well, the story actually goes something like this. The tailor doesn't have your dress ready even three weeks after the due delivery date. Your cousin calls from Boston at the crack of dawn, telling you to send her some traditional stuff. The list reads: and ethnic vest, hand-made paper note book with Grameen check cover, terracotta and water hyacinth Jewelry etc. You have to buy a, sari for your male's grandmother, who decides to pay a visit a week before Eld and then also vou need some Eld cards for friends abroad. Therefore you "must" go to the market. The back and forth agonizing trips to the shopping centres have, however, provided you a sneak preview of how the Dhakaites are gearing up for the biggest religious festival of the Muslim population. Eid seems to negate the fact that Bengalis are.a laid-back lot. With renewed vigour and enthusiasm they literally "shop till they drop.'
You sit op one of those wild and noisy con-; traptions and dazedly wonder whether the tailor ig going to give you his favourite fine: "Hartal is impeding my wbrk. Boredom forces you to look for amusement. You inspect the occupants in the near by vehicles. Sad. tired, anxfous. animated, exasperated, angry all kinds of faces around you. The terrible thing is. they all seemed to be going to the shops. Suddenly a push from the back and the cacophony of bells ' and horns Intrude your thoughts. Your previous ■ impatienfa with the traffic deadlock gives way to dread as you fake in the crowded entrance of the market. Before you know it, you will be pushed forward by some eager buyers desperate to get in. Don't be surprised at being ptlshed around either by people or by objects. It's the way of life here. After puffing and panting and fighting all the way you reach the tailoring shop, only to find out your guess was 1O0 per cent correct. The tailor had his "ready excuse1' for you. You remember your finicky little sister wanted you to get burgundy velvet material from a shop located at the last row of Chadni Chawk. On any other day. it wouldn't be such a big deal but on Eid time, it was pure suicide! Anyhow, thinking about the>
Eid spirit and all that crap you struggle to get inside After shoving and Jostling your way through the throng of masses ( of course, you're not aggressive by nature, it's just that situation demands it) you reach the shop in question. But you can't enter as the place is filled with frenzied buyers. After screaming your lungs out for 15 minutes a kind hearted soul Informs you that the burgundy material has been sold, but you can take the royal blue velvet instead. Having had enough of that market you decide to go to Eastern PJaza:
Just the thought of that air conditioned, spacious shopping, centre soothes your ruffled nerves and even makes another dose of traffic hazards bearable. What a rude awakening you were in for! The jam there was inconceivable, worse than the" one you faced earlier; giving you a pretty good idea of what's in store for you inside. The transport-blocked roads prevent you from turning back, so in you go. The "houseful" atmosphere in the usually calm plaza with its jam-packed escalators, under ordinary circumstances would have looked hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic. People were waiting in lines by the escalators reluctant to use the relatively bare staircases. As myriad customers walk along, you hear two mutter. "Why there are so many in sight and that’s not the way it should be!" Puzzled you check, yes. you are at the accessories section of the complex which surely attracts more girls? But these days the erstwhile' "women's paradise" Gawsla Market too swarms with guys. On your way out. you hear some one crying for help. Het handbag has been stolen. Obviously, the work of pickpockets. You frantically search your own bag. No, the money's there, but it could've been you. Losing money during this time of the year at the markets is a common 'occurrence. Just a few days back a lucky lady, got her money (about Tk 5.000) back near a • prominent sari store at daily road when she voiced her suspicions about a small boy. The security people and the passers-by came to her rescue. It was later known that the kid was a mefe accomplice for a lady who he entered the shop with.
During crazy Eid time, it's wise for all the shoppers to follow two rules.
(1) Learn how to elbow and fight your way around the shops and
(2) Beware of pickpockets. Try not to carry too much money with you. After all not everyone is as lucky as the abovementioned lady.
All said and done it's better yet. to stay away from the city shopping centres at least three weeks before Eid. If you can. that is.