Attar bottles on sale at a shop in Jamshedpur on Sunday. (Animesh Sengupta)

Jamshedpur, Aug. 7: This Ramzan, devotees are opting for the global mart available right here in the city.

Imported attars, prayer caps and dates, the market knows just what people demand.

That’s why shops located close to mosques such as Jama Masjid and Aambagan Masjid, both in Sakchi, as well as those elsewhere at Dhatkidih, Burmamines, Jugsalai, Golmuri, Azad Market (Telco), Parsudih and Mango are flooded with items from overseas and doing brisk business.

Attars (perfumed floral oils) from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are edging out Indian counterparts for their sweet and long-lasting fragrance. Prayer caps from Turkey, Indonesia and China are dominating the market due to their designs and flexible sizes. Dates from Iran and Saudi Arabia are preferred because of their size and taste.

Mufleh Usmani, proprietor of Maktaba-Al-Taba, a shop at Sakchi Jama Masjid, said varieties of attars from Jeddah and Pakistan were in vogue. “Imported brands such as Red Rose, Sultan, Assel, Lord and Janatul Firdausi are affordable at Rs 90- Rs 100 per bottle. We sell around 25-30 units per day,” he said.

Interestingly, there are attar brands of India and Pakistan identically named Majmoha. But the difference is in the quality, say insiders. “Pakistan’s Majmoha costs Rs 80-90 per bottle and the scent lasts much longer than the Indian variant that sells at Rs 50-60. The only Indian brand giving competition is Dana, made in Mumbai, at Rs 150,” said the shopkeeper.

He added caps from Turkey and Indonesia were preferred as they could be stretched to fit all heads, while Chinese ones had a unique texture. “Turkish and Indonesian caps are priced around Rs 50-90. We sell 40-50 pieces a day. Chinese caps, a new entrant this year, are priced at Rs 60 each. We sell 20 pieces a day,” he said.

Jamshedpur Fruits Wholesalers Association president Fazal Khan said a truckload of dates (10 tonnes) arrive in the city before Ramzan. “Dates from Iran and Saudi Arabia are priced at Rs 80-250 per 500gm. Indian dates cost Rs 40 per kg. But customers prefer the overseas ones,” he said.