Local traders, tailors, beauty salons cash in on the eve of Eid
Huge crowds thronged the markets to browse for different traditional items. During the last four days, many people visited the commercial areas of Seeb -- the most populated area in Muscat Governorate -- to purchase traditional items for the preparation of Eid delicacies. Particularly in demand were locally prepared spices and ingredients for preparing Omani halwa and shuwa, besides nuts, fried meat and mishkak
As Eid al Adha approaches people throng to the outlets in preparation for the festivities, selling dishdashas, their full-length robe stretching from the neck to the toes, kummas, the specially- designed peak-less caps on the heads and masrs, the turbans wore by Omanis in a special way symbolising the local culture. The days prior to Eid celebrations witnessed an eagerness for shopping amid heavy rush at the shopping outlets dealing in various items associated with the festivities. It is recommended for the Muslims to prepare for the festival by maintaining cleanliness of mind and body, taking special care of personel details by putting on the best clothes available, whether new or if old, cleaned ones.
Traditional dresses
On formal occasions, a white dishdasha accompanied by masrs and a silver dagger (khanjar) is worn with a belt to complement the formal outfit. However, on casual and the less formal occasions, coloured dishdashas with kummas are worn. The dishdasha is usually made from fine cotton and is embroidered around the neckline, the mid-chest cleft extending few centimetres down and at the edges of the sleeves. The dishdasha is secured at the neck by a button and a tassel (furakhiya) is attached to one side of the opening.
Generally, the cloth stores are the biggest gainers and business is always excellent during this period. Customarily, pre-Eid shopping is necessary as for some it is like the festival of gifts when people exchange gifts with their families and friends. Despite the modifications and developments observed in the latest style of dressing, the Sultanate has distinctively observed its cultural heritage in preserving the different kinds of Omani attire. Although the dresses differ remarkably in pattern and colours, predominantly an Omani attire is distinguished by a set of loose and long sleeved clothes.
Hairdo
With regards to physical appearance, the menfolk crowd the barber shops waiting for their turns for hair cut or shaving. This is the time when most of the barber shops around the city do brisk business. More barber shops are working day and night just to meet the demand with some barbers showing signs of tiredness. "I don't close my shop till three in the morning and I have to open again at nine the next day," said one of the barbers talking to the Observer. "We have to do it as it is only for few days, and after all it is a good time to make money," he added.
Pre-Eid markets
As for pre-Eid markets, huge crowds thronged the markets to browse for different traditional items. During the last four days, many people visited the commercial areas of Seeb -- the most populated area in Muscat Governorate -- to purchase traditional items for the preparation of Eid delicacies. Particularly in demand were locally prepared spices and ingredients for preparing Omani halwa and shuwa, besides nuts, fried meat and mishkak (barbecue).
Also on demand were skewers, firewood and dry banana leaves used for wrapping shuwa meat, palm frond sacks and empty tins -- all used in the preparation of the mutton delicacy shuwa, which is cooked over burning charcoal in an underground oven. The Wilayat of Seeb is also famous for attracting traders and merchandisers from places as distant as Salalah, offering a variety of wares and animals, including sheep, goats, cows and bulls, which are in big demand during Eid celebrations.
Henna
The Eid preparations for the ladies beauty department includes queuing up for their turn to be hand-decorated with henna, a natural herb used in decorating and dying the skin and hair. Over the ages, culturally, both Omani men and women have been using henna as a natural dying remedy that is known for its nutritive effect as well as conditioning and giving a cooling effect to the skin.
Henna has seen tremendous popularity in recent years and this Eid has seen many of the ladies making a beeline for beauty parlours to get themselves decorated in wonderful designs. Culturally, henna adornment is applied by spreading the herb on the feet and hands in a professionally designed way. Henna is done in various forms like black henna, coloured henna (Sudanese style) and in the latest Arabic or Indian designs.
Shaddad al Musalmy
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
