Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival for Muslims, is only days away. As across the world, devout people in West Bengal will sacrifice animals on that day to seek closeness to the Creator. Temporary animal markets are starting to open in various districts of the state, and animals are already being bought and sold in Murshidabad, Malda, North 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Howrah, Kolkata and several other places.

Temporary markets have already opened at several places in Kolkata. The main ones are on Zakaria Street next to the Nakhoda Mosque, and in Khidirpur, Rajabazar, Garden Reach, Narkeldanga and Metiabruz. Smaller temporary markets are also opening elsewhere.

Every year before the Qurbani Eid, animals are brought to these temporary markets from outside West Bengal. Local people in Kolkata are more interested in animals from outside, and prefer good-breed castrated goats, dumbas and camels.

Sources said a cow weighing one and a half to two maunds costs 20,000 to 25,000 rupees at these temporary markets, while a cow of three to four maunds costs 45,000 to 50,000 rupees. Sellers are asking 80,000 rupees to one lakh rupees for dumbas and camels.

Good-breed castrated goats are selling for 20,000 to 25,000 rupees, though prices may vary somewhat from place to place. A little bargaining can bring the price down considerably.

Jamal Sheikh, an animal seller at Kadambagachhi in North 24 Parganas, said the Qurbani Eid may fall on 17 June. Temporary markets are held in the area every year before it, and every kind of animal is available for Eid. But prices are a little higher this year than last year.

He said animals come here from different parts of India and have not yet arrived, so prices are a little high. Once animals start coming in from outside, prices may gradually fall.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.