Peerzada Masarat Shah
As Eid approaches, markets across the Kashmir Valley—and in Muslim-majority regions beyond—begin to glow with familiar warmth. Streets are crowded, bakeries hum with activity, and the scent of freshly baked bread, kulchas, and sweets fills the air. Traditionally, this is a time of generosity, shared meals, and small indulgences that bring joy to families, especially children.
But this year, beneath the festive surface lies a troubling pattern—one that stretches from Srinagar to other Muslim-dominated areas across the country: rising prices, shrinking quantities, and a growing sense of quiet exploitation.
A Festival of Price Hikes
In Kashmir, the first alarm rang with the spike in mutton prices, a staple of Eid feasts. No sooner had that debate settled than bakery items—central to Eid traditions—began drawing criticism.
Walk into bakeries across Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, or Sopore, and the pattern is strikingly similar. Prices have surged to levels that feel detached from everyday reality. Biscuits priced at ₹600 for barely 300 grams, pastries touching ₹150, and simple cakes starting at ₹200 are no longer exceptions—they are becoming the norm.
This trend isn’t limited to Kashmir. In several Muslim-majority localities in cities like Delhi, Lucknow, and Hyderabad, consumers report similar experiences during Ramadan and Eid seasons: festive demand becomes an opportunity for inflated pricing.
The Invisible Cut: When Weight Shrinks
If high prices weren’t enough, customers are increasingly raising concerns about underweight products.
In parts of the Valley, buyers allege that what is sold as 500 grams often measures closer to 400 grams, while a “kilogram” quietly drops to 800 or 900 grams. The discrepancy is subtle—almost invisible—but consistent enough to raise serious questions.
A resident from downtown Srinagar recounted his experience: “I went to buy bakery items before iftar. Prices were already high, but when I got home and checked the weight, it felt like I had paid more for less. It’s not just expensive—it feels dishonest.”
Similar complaints echo from Muslim neighbourhoods elsewhere, where festive rush often weakens oversight and allows such practices to slip through unnoticed.
A Regulatory Blind Spot
This raises a critical question: where are the regulators?
While authorities are often proactive in monitoring essential commodities like vegetables, fuel, or meat, bakery items seem to fall into a grey area—despite their cultural and social importance during Eid.
Across Kashmir Valley, there is little visible enforcement when it comes to:
Standardized pricing
Accurate weighing practices
Display of rate lists
The absence of routine inspections or strict penalties creates an environment where some traders operate with near-total discretion—especially during peak festive demand.
Beyond Business: The Ethics of Celebration
It is reasonable to acknowledge that costs rise during festive seasons. Ingredients become expensive, demand surges, and businesses seek to maximize profits.
But there is a thin line between fair profit and exploitation.
When prices rise disproportionately and quantities quietly shrink, the issue moves beyond economics into ethics. It becomes a question of trust—between trader and customer, and between community and commerce.
Eid, at its core, is about sharing, compassion, and inclusion. Practices that undermine these values risk turning celebration into exclusion.
The Unequal Burden
The impact of this trend is not uniform.
For affluent families, higher prices may be inconvenient. For middle- and low-income households, they are restrictive. In many parts of Kashmir and similar regions, families now find themselves budgeting carefully—even for small festive purchases.
A father in Baramulla put it bluntly: “Children wait for Eid all year. But now even a simple box of biscuits feels like a luxury. How do you explain inflation to a child?”
This widening gap threatens to dilute the very spirit of Eid—transforming it from a festival of togetherness into a reminder of economic disparity.
The Way Forward
Addressing this issue requires both administrative action and ethical introspection.
Authorities must:
Conduct regular market inspections during Ramadan and Eid
Enforce strict penalties for underweight products
Ensure clear and visible pricing for all bakery items
Traders must ask themselves: Is short-term profit worth long-term loss of trust?
Because in close-knit societies like Kashmir—and across Muslim communities—reputation travels faster than advertisements.
Restoring the Spirit of Eid
Eid is not merely a commercial season. It is a time of faith, generosity, and human connection. Markets are an extension of that spirit—not separate from it.
When customers leave shops feeling cheated rather than satisfied, the damage goes beyond wallets. It erodes trust, weakens community bonds, and leaves behind a bitterness no sweetness can mask.
If Eid is to remain a celebration for all, then fairness must return to the marketplace.
Because in the end, it’s not just about how much you sell—it’s about how honestly you serve.
