ISLAMABAD: Beggars population increases in our cities during the holy month of Ramazan.

And so does the number of small children found selling odd things at busy traffic signals of Islamabad. Some of these flowers of the nation offer commuters seasonal flowers in the hope of receiving charity in exchange.

But for many of them the place of dignified begging shifts on Eid day. It is real business selling flowers and petals to people visiting graveyards of the twin cities.

It is a tradition with Muslims to offer Fateha, place flowers and sprinkle rosewater at the graves of loved ones on the day. The dead in adjacent graves are also honoured and flower petals are spread over them too.

In Islamabad, the graveyards in H-8, I-11 and IJ Principal Road are most visited, and Shah Ki Talian, Race Course, Eidgah Sharif and Ratta Amral and other graveyards in Rawalpindi.

Some visitors arrive with the flower offerings to the disappointment of the flower sellers waiting for them outside the graveyards.

Most of the regular florists in Rawalpindi buy their flowers, mainly rose, from the wholesale market in Lahore. But the flower shops in Islamabad receive their supplies directly from flower growers of Pattoki.

“We have our biradry (clan), and our business is not limited to Eid only,” said Shafqat Hussain, a flowers seller in Jinnah Super Market.

“And these street children have a long term interaction with us.”

Banni Chowk has the largest concentration of flower sellers in Rawalpindi. Despite the wet weather on Friday, buyers continued to pour into the Banni Chowk market seeking not just petals and garlands but also decorative sheets made of synthetic materials laid at the graves.

“But the preferred choice is always rose petals — the scent of rose gives the impression of spirituality that is rose water is sprinkled on the graves,” said florist Muhammad Shabar of Banni Chowk.

Increased demand for the occasion had already jacked up the prices of flowers, garlands and other floral products. An ordinary garland normally available for Rs15 cost Rs25 on Thursday, Rs35 on Friday and could be Rs45 on Eid day. Some flower sellers, especially the street children, reduce the number of flowers in a garland to make extra money.

Flower sellers leap of faith on the occasion of Eid might have brought the Banni Chowk sellers between Rs200,000 and Rs300,000 on Friday.

Rates of rose petals also rose - from Rs100 per kg to around Rs200 and could go up to Rs250 per kg on Eid morning.

Retailers in smaller markets in the city and those outside graveyards manage to make more money as usually they don’t sell petals by weight, but in plastic bags for Rs40 or Rs50.

“There will be demand on Eid day too but only to vanish by the evening,” said florist Muhammad Gulshan sadly.

“If the last hour sales are not good, our leftover stock will all rot as we see no demand for roses in the days after Eid.”

Retailers had started preparing garlands, offered in Eid greeting to visitors, on Thursday morning.

“We bought petals at Rs4,000 per 40kg three days back as the rates dropped in wake of news of rains,” said Gulshan.

“The rate was above Rs4,500 a week back.”

Wholesalers buy roses and petals in bulk and truck-loads of the stuff are delivered to Rawalpindi from Lahore. But this year the wholesalers looked off colour in the business.

“Untimely rains have brought huge loss to me,” said one wholesaler in Rawalpindi, not willing to be named — perhaps for fear of the taxman.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2015

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