HYDERABAD, Oct 9: With Eid approaching Hyderabad has been witnessing a frenzied shopping activity as buyers and sellers can be seen arguing over the rates of daily use items to luxury attires for the occasion.

The people of Hyderabad have finalized all arrangements to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with traditional zeal, enthusiasm and festivity like other parts of the country.

Eid shopping is on peak as great heavy rush was witnessed in almost all shopping areas of Hyderabad including Resham Bazar, Shahi Bazar, Cantonment, Qasimabad Shopping Centre, Gul Centre and Latifabad Unit No-8.

The Eid shopping would likely to continue till the early hours of Eid day.

With Eid-ul-Fitr only a few days away, Eid shopping is picking up in the district.

The high prices of rice, onion, chilli, vegetables and other essential commodities have hit hard the common man and many are in a fix about how to manage the extra expenditure for Eid shopping within their limited budgets.

In Hyderabad local and international clothes, footwear, cosmetics and many other commodities have made inroads into many shops and markets in the city.

Shopkeepers said here on Sunday that sales usually picks up after the 20th Ramazan.

The buyers say they were disheartened by price hike this year.

The footpath markets at busy Resham Bazar, Cloth Market, Tilak Incline and other busy spots of the city are yet to gain shopping momentum.

The people belonging to lower income groups normally crowd the footpath markets much ahead of the Eid festivities.

Markets witnessed a decline in sale of various items since the beginning of the Ramazan.

On the other hand, a buying spree was noticed at all the markets in different parts in the city.

Eid is the most enjoyable occasion to Muslims all over the world. Everyone tries to buy new clothes within his or her budget.

To attract these potential customers shopkeepers meticulously decorate their boutiques with new dresses and beautiful attires.

A few years ago, imported clothing used to fill up the markets during Eid times but now the trends are changing. Domestic products and local designers are getting more preference these days.

Moreover, foreign products are being imported in lesser volumes as compared to previous years. As a result, local boutiques have become more attractive places to the upper and middle class customers for buying Eid dresses.

Focusing on the customers, boutiques have arranged new fashionable dresses. People say they are getting the dress of their choice in these shops.

But some customers argue that the prices of these dresses are quite high as compared to the previous years. As a result they find it difficult to buy the most preferable one within their limited budget.

Shop owners said that as the production costs are getting higher day by day they do not have any other alternative but to increase the prices.

People in low income group, like daily wage earners, factory workers usually do their shopping at comparatively low prices from the markets at Cloth Matket, Pacca Qilla, Faqir-Ka-Pir, Shahi Bazar, Siroghat and from other places.

People of different walks of life while giving their comments said that the prices are quite high this year.

Their source of worry is the increasing rate of crime in the city. Considering this matter, the police have increased the security. The police and law-enforcement agents have been deployed in the city and adjoining areas to maintain law and order during the Ramazan and on the Eid.—APP