I have a bitter relationship with Eid shopping. Here’s why.
If you are anything like me, you realise that sometimes, the big deal we people tend to make out of clothes shopping during Eid can be blown a little out of proportion. There is nothing wrong with wanting to hoard clothes during Ramadan but making it a strict untold tradition that everyone in the household will be bound by can be daunting for people who don't feel the same ecstasy in this retail rush.
How people manage to have their thrill of shopping override the fatigue which comes with it will always remain a mystery to me. The feet throbbing, dry mouth and pounding head attained from rummaging through every last of our options in every shop we set foot in is a lot to take in while fasting.
Moreover, when shopping with someone who has a hard time committing to a good choice and someone who never wants to settle for something to buy, the nuisance is a lot greater. On the other side of the spectrum is the possibility that I will be assigned with the task of carrying dozens of shopping bags. Even if I were to put exhaustion out of the equation, I believe purging on clothes does not come with a lot of added benefits. If anything, the prices are higher and we all end up broadening our collection of eid-themed clothes more than we need to.
Perhaps, it's the post-iftar slump that makes it so daunting for us. Then again, unlike the times when we were younger, our lives are constrained to a lot more tasks and busier schedules now. We no longer get to enjoy Ramadan as kids burdened with little responsibilities. Had our daily schedules been more relaxed, the experience would indeed be enjoyable.
This brings me to another issue: traffic. Traffic really is the last straw when it comes to despising Eid shopping. When such a vast majority of the population feel the exact same urge to go shopping during Ramadan, there is bound to be a stupendous influx of vehicles. Not to mention waiting in the seemingly perpetual long hours of traffic (which I am sure no one is a stranger to) feels suffocating to put in light terms.
However, in an odd way, iftars after spending such several hours outside feel more rewarding. Regardless of this surprising upside, I fervently believe that the struggles of Ramadan shopping get overbearing more often than not. It remains a humble request, on behalf of people like me, that we may be excused from this particular Ramadan conundrum and appreciate the true essence of this month better.
Irina is running out of excuses to procrastinate on her assignments. Help her out with your ideas at irinajahan17@gmail.com