Srinagar,
A local FM radio channel has announced that it will not play Bollywood songs for the next month and just focus on devotional content. The usual WhatsApp text messages and videos have been replaced by a plethora of Ramazan greetings, charts of schedule for breaking daily fast and other related videos.

Even as the traders have been by and large complaining of depressed sales ever since the 2014 floods in the Valley, there is a buzz in the markets where shoppers are busy buying stuff for Ramazan that begins on Thursday.

“The shops selling Ramazan-related goods have suddenly sprung to life even though businesses have mostly been down after the floods and the 2016 unrest,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a wholesale dealer.

Amid the jostle in marketplaces selling food items, the mosques too are being readied to welcome worshippers. The mosques and shrines witness an unprecedented rush during the fasting month especially for ‘Tarawih’ — the special Ramazan prayers offered at night.

Several religious places are even reaching out to the people through the social media. A video on WhatsApp is inviting people to offer ‘Tarawih’ at Masjid-ur-Rashaad, Rafiabad, in Baramulla district. Besides offering “sehri” and “iftar” to the believers, the mosque has made special arrangements for completing recital of the Quran during ‘Tarawih’ in three nights.

The restaurant owners, too, are finding out ways to survive during the next month as even those people, who do not fast, avoid eating out during Ramazan.

“We are starting ‘iftar’ home deliveries and also encouraging people to hold ‘iftar’ parties at our café. We will also have Islamic events during the fasting month,” said Faisal H Bhat, co-owner of Cafe Pirates, a newly opened theme cafe in Baramulla.

Several other eateries will not be serving food at all during Ramazan. “Packed food will be available but we do not serve food during the fasting month,” said Sajad Hassan, general manager, Modern Sweets, Karan Nagar. It is a popular eatery that serves a range of cuisines from fast food to biryani.

Meanwhile, residents, especially those who have lived outside the Valley, say Ramazan in Kashmir is mainly a religious affair.