Srinagar, Mar 2 (UNI) As the holy month of Ramadan begins, markets across the Kashmir Valley, particularly in Srinagar, are bustling with activity. Shops and roadside carts are brimming with a variety of dates, sweets, and fruits, attracting crowds of fasting people.
Dates hold a special place in Ramadan traditions, cherished not only for their taste but also for their spiritual and health benefits. The practice of breaking fasts with dates is considered blessed.
On the first day of Ramadan, which began on Sunday, date shops and carts saw a surge in customers.
A local trader from Srinagar, involved in the date trade for years, shared that dates mainly arrive from Medina, Persia, and the Middle East. These regions supply a wide variety of dates to global markets.
“There are countless types of dates, but Medjool is the highest quality and most valuable,” said the trader. Medjool dates, a large and sweet variety is imported from Syria and Morocco,
While in the past, Kashmir would get only a few varieties of dates, the demand has grown for other varieties also. “Earlier, the customers would ask the shopkeeper what they should eat,” said a trader. “But now, they know the names and qualities of different varieties and come pre-planned for what they have to buy”.
He said dates like Mabroom and Sukkari that are imported from Saudi Arabia are in demand, in addition to the usual varieties like Ajwa and Kalmi dates.
This time around the dates from Tunisia, Iraq, and Algeria are also available in the market besides Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Another trader, Owais Fariq, noted a significant price increase this year, with Qalmi and Safari dates now priced at Rs 2850 per 5 kg, up from Rs 2200 previously. “People in Kashmir particularly love these varieties,” he added.
Bashir Ahmed, a cart vendor from Budgam, said he switches to selling dates during Ramadan due to high demand.
“I usually sell other fruits, but in Ramadan, dates bring good earnings,” he said, highlighting the popularity of Ajwa dates, sold at Rs 1200 per kg.
