Sales of cards for Eid, once very popular with the people in the city, have slowed down.
The number of stalls selling Eid cards in the city is far fewer than in previous years, with kiosks and shops set up by the roadside selling trinkets, cheap shoes or other items instead of cards.
Mohammad Imran, who now sells henna and bangles instead of Eid cards at his stand in Liberty Market, said: "Eid cards are not in demand, especially among upper middle class and upper class customers because they have access to electronic cards available on hundreds of websites on the Internet.
"In the past, Eid cards were very much in demand, but their sales are going down. Only those people who are in the habit of sending Eid cards to their friends and families buy them now."
The present trend of sending Eid cards is limited to organisations and corporations that print them for their workers or customers, he added.
Mobile phone companies say that their services are often clogged the day before Eid and on the occasion with thousands of customers around the country sending greetings to each other. The SMS messages work out to be cheaper than sending cards by mail, and is more convenient, said one stall-owner.
"I used to send out dozens of Eid cards, but now I simply mass mail cards over the Internet, and then message any remaining people," Sadaf Khawar, 17, said. She added that for a few close relatives or friends she designed her own cards to send over the Internet. "This is in fact as personal as a hand-written card."
Some Internet cafes have also advertised 'designed' e-cards that can be sent out to those placed on a mailing list by customers. The service has been in demand, with cards featuring pictures of actresses and supermodels, doing especially well.
Also a favourite with young people is the delivery of Eid greetings along the tickers that run on some TV channels, including local music channels, permitting people to dial-in or e-mail messages to friends. "We all love the Khyber channel, and I want my Eid message read out on its 'Khyber beats' music show," says Gulzar, 24.
Kiosks selling bangles have cropped up everywhere for the occasion, and stall owners are pre-paring for the onslaught of shoppers during the last few days before Eid.
Gulf News
