Wedding garment business suffers losses in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct.4 (ANI): The wedding garment business in Srinagar has gone down as many weddings have been cancelled in the wake of the numerous strikes, curfews and shutdowns that hit the region.

September and October are seen as favourable months for weddings. But the ongoing cycle of protests, curfews and violence in the Kashmir Valley has brought business by over 80 per cent.

Traders engaged in the business have suffered losses worth million of rupees, as a result.

"September and October are the months of wedding in Kashmir. But due to tension in the Valley, everybody thinks of doing shopping quickly. When the curfew is lifted, the groom goes to the market and quickly wraps up his shopping. Everybody is doing limited shopping," said Imtiyaz Ahmed, a local shopkeeper.

Several weddings have been put off, or performed with great simplicity, limiting clothing purchase for brides and grooms alike.

The ongoing unrest has also led to loss of income for most households in the region as shops and businesses remained shut for days at a stretch.

Kashmir witnessed violent protests, since June 11, when a 17-year-old boy was killed after a tear smoke shell hit him during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in the city. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)