Lahore women take active role in Eidul Azha shopping and cattle market visits

LAHORE: As Eidul Azha draws closer, Lahore’s markets, shopping centres and beauty salons are seeing a marked rise in activity, with women playing a visible role in preparations for the festival.

The bustle is evident across traditional bazaars, modern malls and salons, where women are making purchases, arranging festive grooming appointments and, in many cases, accompanying male relatives to livestock markets to help choose sacrificial animals. The trend reflects broader participation in preparations that are often associated mainly with men and cattle trading.

Despite hot and humid weather, shopping areas including Anarkali, Liberty and Ichhra continue to attract large crowds. Women visiting these markets are buying clothes and accessories for Eid while also finalising other arrangements linked to the holiday.

Shopping and livestock preparations

At Anarkali Bazaar, shopper Ayesha Khan said she had recently gone to the Shahpur Kanjran cattle market with her brother to select a white calf for sacrifice. She described the visit as tiring because of the dust and heat, but said the excitement surrounding Eid made the effort worthwhile.

Speaking about assumptions around women’s role in Eid preparations, she said:

People think girls are only interested in clothes and shoes, but I also went to the cattle market myself

She added that after the livestock purchase, she had turned her attention to completing her Eid dress, including fabric for a traditional farshi shalwar.

In Liberty Market, another shopper, Maryam Batool, said the weather had influenced her clothing choices this season. She said she had planned a light pastel lawn outfit with a short kurti and farshi shalwar so that she could stay comfortable in the heat while keeping a traditional appearance.

Salon rush ahead of chand raat

Beauty salons in the city are also experiencing increased bookings as Eid approaches. Women are reserving appointments for chand raat makeup, hairstyling and nail art as part of their preparations for the holiday.

The growing rush in markets and salons, alongside women’s participation in cattle market visits, highlights how many in Lahore are approaching Eidul Azha preparations through both household responsibilities and personal festive arrangements.