Kolkata: Many of the livestock markets that come up across the city before the festival of Bakri Eid will be conspicuous by their absence this year, the organizers have informed the police.
They took the decision keeping in mind how rapidly the novel coronavirus was spreading. The huge markets attract thousands of people each day. They flock to purchase livestock for sacrifice on Bakri Eid. The organizers of these markets fear setting up the bazaars amid the pandemic may further aggravate the situation.
“This year, we have decided to make a different kind of sacrifice by not setting up market, which has been around for decades and is one of the biggest in the city. We took the decision to help the state government control the pandemic,” said Mohammad Ali, secretary of Jamiatul Quresh, which has been facilitating the setting up of the livestock market in Narkeldanga.
Bakri Eid is the second Islamic festival of the year, which follows Id-ul-Fitr that marks the end of Ramzan, the holy month of fasting. This year, Bakri Eid will be observed on August 1. In May, Muslims in the state had prayed at home on Id-ul-Fitr as a precaution against Covid-19.
In Zakaria Street in central Kolkata the market for goats and sheep has not been set up this year. For over 10 days thousands of buyers and sellers of goat and sheep visit the temporary market everyday. “We are at a very crucial stage in our fight against the pandemic with the state government going in or staggered lockdowns to decrease the cases and the load on our resources. Every one of us should display sense of responsibility and stay away from anything which can pose risk to others,” said Nasir Khan, a resident of central Kolkata.
Several people within the Muslim community have decided not to celebrate the festival both for economic as well as precautionary reasons.
The almost 10-week long lockdown and the fear of the transmission of the virus has dealt a huge blow to businesses with many families struggling to meet household and health expenses. Others are apprehensive about letting people into their homes.
“Our family has decided not to offer any sacrifice this year breaking away from a decades old tradition within the family. The business has taken a very bad hit and there is no hope of revival till there is a vaccine for COVID 19. Moreover, sacrifice is a community affair where several people visit each other but it may lead to the spread of the virus. I have elderly parents who I want to safeguard,” said Mohammad Irfan who stays in Beck Bagan and runs an apparel shop in a city mall.
