Muslims offer namaz on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Oct. 12: Muslims across the city are gearing up with full enthusiasm for Id.

Apart from delicious delicacies to beautiful apparel, residents have developed the fancy for aquariums and ornamental fishes for decorating their houses this Id.

Aquarium sellers in the steel city say that this is new concept that is becoming increasingly popular among high and middle classes in society.

People, assuming that fishes bring good fortune to them, are buying the pets to decorate their houses in large numbers. Hence, aquarium houses are doing brisk business on this occasion.

For Gaurav Singh of Fish World Aquarium, the concept of buying fishes along with the aquarium, is gaining popularity.

He said that in one month of Ramazan, he has sold more than 500 aquariums and more than 5,000 ornamental fishes.

The popular ones are bright-coloured small fishes.

Gold fish, small shark, red parrot fish, green parrot fishes tiger fishes are a few favourites.

For Shreen Khan, a housewife, fishes bring fortune.

“According to Vastu Shastra, if one has fishes in the house, it brings prosperity and reduces tension. According to Vastu, if someone watches black fish everyday at home, the chances of blood pressure gets reduced to a large extent. Eight pieces of gold fishes and a black fish is very auspicious and brings prosperity. Hence, I have purchased a new aquarium this Id, which not only adds to the beauty of the house but also adds a distinguished look. Many of my friends and relatives have also decorated homes with fishes,” she said.

The shopkeepers said that apart from purchasing new fishes, the people are getting their old aquariums repaired.

Shop owners have planned to do business late into the night. Shoppers were busy doing their last-minute shopping for the day till late in the evening and lent a colourful look to city markets.

”I am still finishing the shopping. I can’t afford to miss out on anything as it is going to be the penul- timate day. In my menu this year, I will include Benarasi Sewai, which after being prepared, stays fresh even after six months. The mutton and chicken dishes will be there to serve guests. Most importantly, housewives, and not servants, will prepare all the delica- cies as it is going to be one of our most memorable days,” said Rehana Parveen, a bank employee.