Eid shopping in Bangladesh has officially transformed from a fun seasonal tradition into a full-blown mental and financial marathon – where the only thing running out faster than your patience is your bank balance.
Let’s be real, that one innocent thrill of picking out an Eid outfit has transformed into a serious game of financial decision making. The real competition is finding a dress that doesn’t make you question whether you should sell a kidney or not (well, you have two actually).
Once upon a simpler time a stroll through Chadni Chawk to Gausia and Bashundhara City with a patient bargaining session and “Nah, arektu koman, eto dibo na” to “Fixed Price”. Now a humble two-piece Pakistani Lawn Suit costs you Tk7,000 and no it doesn’t come with matching accessories and counselling.
Who to blame?
Every girl wants to channel her inner Hania Amir with flowing dupatta and dreamy outfits. You too think, “Maybe I too deserve a flowy, fancy outfit with a delicate embroidery and a soft pastel tone” but in reality you are stuck with stock out notification or prices are higher than your semester fee. And don’t get me started on the Farshi Salwar mania; 10-ft trails, heavy embroidery all for an Eid dawat in this summer!
Now the real hunger games are Facebook Live!
Your feed is filled with lives, one after another, “Apu Fresh arrival! Single piece! Comment fast”.
And you watch, scroll, you keep watching, live 1, live 2, live 3, and live 28! Your eyes are burning, your battery is dying, but still no dreess! And just when I finally spot that one perfect piece…..guess what? It’s stock out faster than your Eid bonus, or the price is so insane. It feels like the kind of money you’d spend on two whole Eid, a family dinner, and possibly a small weekend trip to Cox’s Bazar!
Even boy’s aren’t safe anymore. Your simple white Panjabi days are gone. Now you are dragged to a colour coordination discussion, “Is this sage green or pistachio green?” The Panjabi you thought would be your simple savior is now priced higher than your last trip to Sreemangal! Still you take it to the trail room expecting to feel royal……instead it feels like you’re wearing overpriced tablecloth fabric!
Well, not just just premium stores but every random store also thinks they’re Paris Fashion Week! Plain cotton with a crooked button deserves a Tk5,000 price tag! Well, not every shopper out there is looking for a “limited edition heirloom”. There are also some people who just want to look decent on Eid!
But, you know what, at the end of the day if it makes you happy, do it. If that Eid dress costs you more than two Eid bonuses combined, go for it! Well, you’ve got one life. Buy the Farshi, pose like a queen. But in between all this shopping madness and Instagram perfect looks, take a moment to look around. How are the people around you celebrating? Are they as happy as you are?
You got one life, but so do they.
So maybe – just maybe – while chasing after your dream outfit, help someone else smile a little too. Let’s make this Eid not just about wearing the best, but about feeling the best together.
And please, pray for me that I can find my Eid dress without selling a kidney. Or better yet, may it not be on sale – because my heart can only take so much.