Eid-ul-Zuha the principal feature of which is sacrifice of animals seems to have come handy for the city’s butchers, fodder sellers, drivers of animal carriers, knife sharpeners and the like.
The butchers are the lot who are on the highest demand. They have been booked a week before the festival. They are charging around Rs1500 to Rs1600 per animal to be thus sacrificed.
“The rates depend on the sizes of the animals,” said Abbas Qureshi, a butcher by profession. Akram, a seasonal butcher, said he is charging Rs 800 to Rs 1000 for each of the sacrifices.
“Though a holiday, we would be busy on the day of the festival as we would be engaged for the sacrificing service,” said another butcher based near Inamullah Building in Dehradun.
Hamid , a butcher living in Qureshi colony near Inamullah Building, said many people are coming to engage them for sacrificing service. “They are negotiating the price. However, our rates are fixed. I have booked orders for three days. However, on the first day, I received the maximum number of orders. The orders are still coming. I think it would be difficult to manage ,” he added.
Similarly, cargo vehicle owners who are transporting sacrificial animals from the markets to the residences of the devotees are earning hefty amounts. “Usually, I transport factory goods,” said lal Singh. “But I am now earning nearly three times more for carrying the animals,” he said.
Knife sharpeners were also seen in high demand. “I am charging from Rs10 to Rs80 for sharpening different sizes of knives,” said Zaid, a professional knife sharpener trading near Prince Chowk in the city.