NEW DELHI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Muslim shoppers across India Tuesday thronged market places to do shopping ahead of main Muslim festival, Eid-ul-Fitr.
The festival marking end of the Islamic month of Ramadan - the holy month of fasting - will be celebrated in India on Wednesday.
Eid is an official holiday in India. Muslim youth and children wear new clothes on the eve of this festival and gather at designated grounds and mosques to offer special prayers.
The womenfolk prepare special foods and delicacies for the day. Even special delicacies and dishes are available at restaurants and in markets for the day.
Markets in the Muslim dominated areas across the country witnessed an unusual rush of shoppers since morning.
"This is major Muslim festival and almost all people purchase various things in anticipation of this (Eid-il-Fitr) festival," S Yunus, a businessman in old Delhi's Jama Masjid (grand mosque) told Xinhua. "Since early morning people were seen crowding shops to buy food items and new clothes to celebrate Eid."
At Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, pavements meant for pedestrians in the market places were occupied by street vendors, who had erected makeshift stalls to sell different items including vegetables, toys, snacks, ready made garments, among others.
Customers were seen eagerly waiting for their turn outside the city's well-known bakery and confectionery shops that showcased different varieties of sweets, cakes and pastries.
