KARACHI, Nov 11: As the Eid festival draws nearer, excitement among people of all ages appears to be fast rising, and rush is growing at all shopping centres across the city.

The day-long fast, which a vast majority of the people may have been observing for last several days, appears not to have restrained their spirit to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in a befitting manner.

It would perhaps be an altogether different issue whether to confine oneself to austerity - making maximum efforts in seeking forgiveness and blessings during the holy month of Ramazan or go for unnecessary ostentation.

However, since Eid-ul-Fitr is also celebrated as a gesture to thank Allah Almighty for his blessings, the faithful consider making it a memorable social event for which elaborate preparations ought to be necessarily made.

Hence, at this point of time with Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated in the next few days, markets and commercial centres, located right from downtown areas to varied residential localities, are being thronged by the people.

However, what happens to be unusual this year is that significant majority of shoppers seem to be more interested in looking around and making queries about the cost rather making actual purchases.

Visiting and passing away their time, a little after sunset till late hours at an ever-increasing fast food shops across the city has again emerged to be another atypical phenomenon.

Besides regular restaurants and eateries, the make-shift food stalls appear to be thronged by public making an already difficult accessibility of motorists to congested site all the more problematic.

People visiting the Hyderi shopping market and the residents of the North Nazimabad (blocks H and K) regret the impudence of the City Government authorities to have allowed raising of food and cold drink stalls within the ever-crowded parking zone of the Hyderi Commercial area, further shrinking the parking space for vehicles.

Some of the shoppers roaming on Tariq Road and Hyderi, talking to APP, maintained that contrary to the tradition, no change or innovation could be found to have been made on products, specifically put on sale before Eid.

Mrs Khilji, a house wife, maintained that she prefers making all essential Eid shopping before Ramazan and it is only on much persuasion of her children that she comes to the market, enjoy hustle bustle for a while before taking a little refreshment.

Dr. Tahira Riaz claims to be at the shopping site to purchase bangles and costume jewellery for her only daughter age 12, keen to have matching accessories.

There were many who claimed to be actually on shopping spree a day or two before Eid and their current encounters with shopkeepers is to have an idea of products available and their cost.-APP