Eid al Fitr 2021 is the second time Oman is celebrating quietly under a lockdown. The Muttrah Souq, which is an integral part of the festivities being the oldest and traditional market, is sleepy with shutters down of all shops except for certain food shops opened for take-aways.
The traffic used to be slow in the past, with a high number of vehicles crawling to find their spot to park for Eid shopping at Muttrah. This traditional market attracts shoppers not only for clothes but also for spices. Shopping in Muttrah has been part of tradition and lifestyle for many years.
“It is for sure hard, but at the end of the day, there will be a solution. We trust in God,” said Ali Mohammed Sultan, author of 'Memories of the Past', published in Arabic.
Born and brought up in Muttrah, Ali Sultan reflected, “We miss many features of Muttrah. Every year for Eid, we used to visit the wali’s office to greet him. We used to visit our family members scattered around Muttrah. Many of the relatives are still there in Sur al Lawatiya, where I was born. This year we would not be able to do this.
"Wherever I am in Oman, on the second or third day of Eid, I used to go to one of the restaurants in Muttrah, the Luban House. The area was called Khalil Guest House, opposite the fish and fruit market of Muttrah. We were used to seeing the spot near the sea where we used to play as children. It was the first guest house in Muttrah built during Sultan Faisal bin Turki’s time. It was the best place for the Indian traders to stay when they came for their commercial purposes.
"In the evening, I used to go to the graveyard to speak to my parents. I used to sit and read the Quran. Again this may not happen this year as we need to reach home by 7 pm. The lockdown is essential as we need to overcome the pandemic,” said Ali.
Muttrah Souq would have been buzzing with shoppers on a typical pre-Eid day. “I miss Muttrah Souq because that is where I get my caps,” stated Ali adding, “I buy my Eid clothes from there as well as the gold as Eid gifts for my family. This time, however, I am missing the whole Muttrah, its streets and lanes. During the last fifteen days of Ramadhan, I used to visit Muttrah Souq every evening.”
One of the best features of Muttrah is gathering of elderly citizens. That is also missing. “In the SouqI have a café where I keep on visiting till today for the sheer pleasure of being with the elderly crowd. Sitting with them and listening to them is a pleasure. Now there is no chance for that opportunity. All we can do is that we will overcome this situation. I miss all the family members there and hope to reach out to them somehow to let them know we are thinking of them.”
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