Eid cemetery visits become more expensive in Rawalpindi amid rising prices

RAWALPINDI: Visiting graveyards during Eid has become significantly more expensive in Rawalpindi, with prices of flowers, petals, grave coverings, incense sticks and rose water rising sharply in open markets, adding to the pressure on households already affected by inflation.

Despite the increase, residents are continuing to buy floral offerings and other ceremonial items as they prepare to visit the graves of deceased relatives during Eid. The purchases remain part of a long-observed practice of remembrance at cemeteries across the city.

Seasonal stalls set up outside graveyards

Across Rawalpindi’s 55 graveyards, between five and 10 temporary stalls and handcarts have been established outside each cemetery to sell flowers and related items. Shopkeepers have also arranged extra stock in anticipation of higher demand during the Eid period.

Flower petals are being sold at about Rs500 per kilogramme, while decorative floral sheets for graves have climbed to nearly Rs1,400 each. Bottles of rose water are available for Rs200, and packets of incense sticks are also being sold for around Rs200.

Grave maintenance costs also rise

In addition to the higher cost of ceremonial items, grave diggers and caretakers have also raised charges for cleaning graves and applying fresh soil to earthen graves. Labour charges for this work have reached around Rs500 per grave, further increasing the cost for families planning cemetery visits.

Residents have also voiced concern over the condition of graveyards in different parts of the city. Many cemeteries, they said, have not been properly cleaned for a long time.

As a result, overgrown bushes, cannabis plants and thick vegetation measuring up to four feet in height have spread through several graveyards, making access difficult and reducing visibility inside the burial grounds.