As at 9:00am on Saturday, Sabongari and Kantin Kwari markets in Kano state, have been filled to the brim with customers, mostly women, who were there to buy fashion and cosmetic items ahead of the forthcoming 2025 Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
After performing a month-long spiritual exercise in Ramadan, Muslims, especially in Kano, have shifted their attention to Eid-el-Fitr celebrations as the fasting period is rounding up.
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Traditionally, the Eid-el-Fitr, popularly known as Sallah celebration in Hausa parlance, marks the end of month of Ramadan where Muslims around the world devote to Allah to observe fasting and other worshipping activities.
During the Sallah celebration, Muslims wear new dresses as practiced and encouraged by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to express happiness for completing Ramadan fasting.
Kano is one of the Muslim state that attach utmost importance to Eid celebrations in the world.
A tour around Kano major markets by bizpoint indicates that women, mostly ladies that came from rural local government areas had broken their banks to storm the Sabongari market to buy shoes, bag, jewelry and costumes, while at Kantin Kwari, they buy veils, brocades, laces and other textile materials.
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Our reporter, who visited the two markets, observed that customers, mostly women, took over the main roads, causing traffic gridlock on the other roads linked to the markets.
At Kwari market, our reporter observed that the women had taken over a part of IBB Road to patronize roadside traders selling fashion items, causing holdup along the road leading to other areas.
“ I have been here early morning. I have come here from Dawanau in Dawakin-Tofa local government. I have finished my shopping. I have bought veil, shoe, perfume and ribbons for my braid and other items,” said Ummi Sa’adu, a 17-year-old lady, who vowed to wear new dress for consecutive seven days during the celebration.
“I want look differently. I want to dress better than any lady in this town, that is why I am making good preparations.
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“I have bout all the items I needed. I am just relaxing here before I go back home because I am a bit exhausted due to the crowd in the market.
“I can’t wait to see Sallah to dress elegantly and look beautiful,” Ummi said.
Another woman, at Kwari market, a mother of ten, said she came from Dambatta local government, about 40 kilometres from the Kano city, to buy fashion materials for her children.
“I have bought Shadda and lace for my ten children. They can not come here, so I decided to come and buy for them because I want them to look beautiful in this Sallah celebration,” she said.
We manage to save money for the day
Asked how they were able to buy the items, the women said they saved money little by little for the Sallah celebration.
According to most of them, it took them almost a year saving to buy the items in order not to be lagged behind during the festivities.
“You have to save for the day because, if you do not have money to buy clothes and other items for your children, they will disturb you with cry. They will cry fervently because they will see their peers wearing new clothes during Sallah festivities and it would be a bad feeling to parents.
“That is why we are saving the little we have to be able to satisfy our children,” Umma Shehu said.
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BizPoint reports that Sallah celebration is expected to kick off on Sunday or Monday, as the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad lll asked Muslim faithfuls to watch out the crescent of the month of Shawwal from (Saturday).
Bizpoint