Iraqi families are increasingly frequenting the Shorja heritage market in central Baghdad these days to buy spices, spices, incense, and types of delicacies for preparing foods and drinks during the blessed month of Ramadan.
The Al-Jazeera Net correspondent, while touring the Shorja market, or what is known as Baghdad's economic lung, monitored a great demand for buying Ramadan supplies despite the continuing Corona pandemic and the noticeable rise in food prices.
Hussein Fawzi said that the demand for shopping decreased this year due to the continuing Corona pandemic (Al-Jazeera)
Usually inherited
Preparing to receive Ramadan in Iraq is one of the old customs, as Iraqi families tend to shop in usual places, including the Shorja Market.
Mrs. Um Ali, who used to frequent the market with the advent of Ramadan, says that the holy month is not pleasant unless its tables are decorated with shorja spices and flavors.
For his part, Hussein Fawzi, the owner of a shop that sells spices and spices in Shorja, spoke to Al-Jazeera Net, saying that the demand for shopping this year has decreased by 40% from previous years due to the continuing outbreak of the Corona pandemic that affected trade in Iraq in general and Shorja in particular, but He indicated that this year is much better than last year, as the turnout was almost non-existent at that time due to the imposition of a curfew to coincide with the onset of Corona.
Iraqis used to frequent the Shorja market with the advent of the month of Ramadan (Al-Jazeera)
On the most requested foodstuff, Fawzy says that it includes all kinds of spices, as well as nuts and legumes.
Al-Zaidi saw that some families began to stop shopping from Shorja because of the large number of markets near homes (Al-Jazeera)
An ancient market
The shorja is a traditional and popular market dating back to the fourth century AH, and it was called Souk Al-Jund, then its name became Al-Attarin Market, then Shorja, which is a Persian word meaning a salty well.
Most of the Baghdadis go to the market to shop from it, especially during Ramadan, special occasions and holidays.
Various spices and flavorings are sold in Shorja (Al Jazeera)
Regarding her opinion on the Shorja market, in the past and in the present, the researcher in psychology and society, Dr. Shaima Al-Zaidi - to Al-Jazeera Net - says that the preparations of Iraqis and Baghdadis specifically for the month of Ramadan have differed in the last two decades due to the circumstances and crises that the country has gone through, indicating that families used to go to Shorja to buy supplies Ramadan, but some of them are reluctant to shop from there due to the security situation, as well as the development of life and the large number of markets near homes.
As for the psychological and social factor of keenness to buy Ramadan supplies from Shorja, Al-Zaidi attributes the reason to nostalgia for family and memories and trying to revive them with the advent of the holy month.
Lanterns, some figures, sweets and nuts to add to the atmosphere of Ramadan (Al-Jazeera)
Decorative items and lanterns
There are also shops in Shorja specializing in the sale of decorations, flyers and lanterns.
Abu Muhammad, the owner of a shop that sells Ramadan decorations, says that the demand for buying these goods increases greatly with the approach of the holy month, as families are keen to decorate their homes to celebrate the advent of the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan decorations are at the top of the shops in Shorja (Al-Jazeera)
Some Iraqi women add a sense of joy and pleasure by preparing a small table on which a Ramadan lantern will be placed, along with some figures, sweets and nuts.
The visitor to the market noticed wooden carts loaded with various foodstuffs, which the porters pulled with difficulty, as they penetrated the crowd that had crowded them and crossed the narrow alleys of the Shorja, demanding the market-goers to stay away from them.
Social researcher Waad Ibrahim says that the decline in the purchasing power of a large group of people with limited income did not prevent them from going to the Shorja market, whose name is associated with the blessed month, and from which shopping is part of the inherited Ramadan customs that are transmitted to new generations to blend with the spirituality and specialness of this holy month.