Banjul — A press release from the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) has relayed that Eid Al Adha, locally known as Tobaski, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 31st December.
The SIC also seized the opportunity to congratulate the government of The Gambia and the entire people of the Gambia on this great occasion, and prayed to Almighty Allah for the prevalence of peace and tranquility in The Gambia and the world at large. Eid Al Adha is the most prominent feast of the Muslim religious calendar in The Gambia. Feverish activities of buying of new clothing and tens of thousands of rams to be slaughtered in ritual sacrifices precede the day for weeks. It is therefore one of the most commercial seasons of the year. This year however, traders who stormed the cities of Banjul and Serekunda for the two weeks sales every year are rather disappointed with their sales. Mr. Sailou Ceesay who comes in from Njoben to buy on whole sale and sell foot-ware every year complained that on his side, last year's turnover was about twice that of this year. He told a Gambia Journal Banjul correspondent that "Last year the groundnut trade season was bad, but at least some nuts were sold in cash before Tobaski. This year the marketing has not even started." He pointed out that cash in the hands of the farming community, because of their size and the volume of their one-off cash earnings, makes the difference. Though the groundnut marketing season has been officially said to have started a week ago in December 22nd, there are yet to be any observable signs of any actual buying anywhere in the country.