LAHORE: People, especially women and children, filled the streets of Lahore for last-minute Eid shopping after timely announcement of sighting of the Shawwal moon on Sunday evening.

“Unlike in the past, the Eid announcement is timely and early. We did not have to wait till late in the night for the announcement this time and are therefore out early for buying traditional items,” said Muhammad Sharif, who was shopping with his wife and children at Samanabad’s Main Market.

Like others, this family was also buying henna and bangles from various stalls set up in the market.

There was also a great rush of Eid shoppers in Anarkali, Liberty Market, Gulberg’s Main Market, Ichhra, Saddar Main Bazaar, Baghbanpura, Lohari Gate’s Gumti Bazar, Kashmiri Bazaar inside Delhi Gate, Allama Iqbal Town’s Moon Market and The Mall.

Shops offering shoes, readymade garments, henna and bangles drew the most rush. Markets remained opened till early morning allowing people to shop during extended hours. A large number of police in uniform and plainclothes guarded the markets against any untoward incident. The government had made adequate security arrangements for Chaand Raat as well as Eid congregations.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2017