The pre-Eid Al Fitr shopping frenzy is in full swing and, as tradition dictates, the stampede to the Old Manama Suq looks like continuing to the final day of Ramadan and beyond.
Stallholders and stores have been delighted with the jingle of tills as families and friends flock to the area buying last-minute Eid outfits, jewellery and sweets just in time for the upcoming holiday.
Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
To celebrate the holiday, Bahraini families can be seen gathering at Al Bait Al Oud (family home) to honour the Eid holiday with loved ones, all while digging into an array of delicious traditional dishes.
Streets and landmarks will be lit to mark the holiday, while numerous gold shops and tailors have already been hard at work to prepare their endless stockpile of festive merchandise for the lucky ones gifted money to spend.
Bangladeshi tailor Shaheen has been working his fingers to the bone to keep up with the demand from Bahrainis keen to look the part for the occasion.
“In the past month, we have received a lot of requests for traditional and plain thobes, specifically for the upcoming Eid holiday,” said Shaheen.
“We had to start preparing the different types of fabric and stock a couple of weeks before to ensure we had enough material for the Eid season.”
Likewise, another tailor called Ashik said that he was busy designing and sewing traditional abayas for a month in preparation of the annual rush.
“This year we prepped numerous kinds of abayas – ranging from different colours and fabrics to make sure we were ready to meet the demand,” he said.
He added that colourful and bright abayas had been in demand this year. In his shop, a selection of brightly coloured and patterned choices were on display ready for customers to purchase on their last-minute shopping sprees.
“Many women request different colours and patterns for their Eid outfit to properly celebrate the season in style,” he said, adding that the demand has been high so far.
Meanwhile, jewellers in the suq said that the market has been busy in the run-up to Eid owing to the fact that the market has been open until midnight.
Many citizens, as well as GCC residents, come to the Manama Suq to buy Bahrain’s famous gold jewellery. Pakistani jeweller Jehangir Babar’s necklace and earrings sets were flying off the shelves.
Bahraini jeweller Mohamed Alsaegh said the gold rush was in full swing. “Bracelets, earring and sets have been among the most popular types of items requested in the run-up to Eid,” he said, despite an increase in global prices.
Shopper Zahra Almoamen who was purchasing last-minute gifts told the GDN added that gift giving and charitable donations were one of the most important parts of the occasion.
“During the holidays, we love to exchange gifts with one another and treat the children to all kinds of presents,” she said.
Ms Almoamem, who works as a tour guide, admitted that gold pieces remain as popular as ever. “Whether a ring, necklace, bracelet or chain, gold is a very thoughtful gift,” she said, adding that she plans to celebrate Eid with family and loved ones, as well as indulge in popular dishes traditional to the kingdom.
Machboos, she said, was her Eid favourite. For the uninitiated, it is a spiced rice dish typically made with basmati rice and chicken, with a blend of aromatic spices such as cloves, cinnamon and black lime.
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