As Muslims follow the Lunar calendar, the fasting month of Ramadan will come to an end with the sighting of the crescent. Eid will be celebrated the next day which will be either Sunday or Monday.
Bakeries, confectioneries and toy shops witnessed heavy rush of customers as Muslims started preparing for the two-day Eid festival.
Shopping outlets dealing with clothing, including kidswear, perfumes and footwear also saw brisk sales.
Roadside vendors have also set up stalls in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas selling all kinds of merchandise.
Serpentine queues were witnessed at ATM outlets and banks as people withdrew more than Rs five crore for Eid shopping in just two days, sources in the banking industry said.
In view of Eid, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank said all its business units and offices in the state shall remain open for public transaction for full day on Friday despite being a bank holiday on account of Juma'atul Vida.
The bank also announced a full working day on Saturday of all the business units in the state "till the last customer is served".
Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations of its ATM network to meet the cash requirements of cardholders, a spokesman of the bank said.
The traffic department has barred entry of heavy passenger vehicles into the commercial hub of Lal Chowk.
"No vehicular traffic shall be allowed to ply on Residency Road from Radio Kashmir to Hari Singh High Street on one side and along M A Road from SRTC Crossing to Jehangir Chowk on the other side, except emergency and on-duty vehicles," a traffic police officer said.
He said the restrictions shall remain in force till Saturday. "In case Eid is celebrated on Monday, the restrictions will extend to Sunday also," he said.
