Feature: Afghans prepare for Eid-ul-Fitar religious festival amid security concerns

Of late, bazaars and shopping malls in all Afghan cities including the capital city of Kabul are all hustle bustle as faithful Muslim families are busy shopping to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitar, the second annual religious festival to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslims fasting month.

"I am here to buy clothes for my children and dry fruits for the family in preparation for Eid-ul-Fitar," Abdul Wadood, 39, told Xinhua on Friday.

With two young children in hand while browsing the shops inside the Gulbahar Center, a shopping Mall in downtown Kabul, Wadood said that he needs high quality garments for his children to wear during Eid.

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month began on June 6 and will probably end on Monday.

Usually Ramadan, counted on lunar calendar, lasts 28 to 30 days, depending on the sighting the moon.

Wadood, while perusing various items, is complaining that the prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"One kilogram of almonds was 900 afghanis last Ramadan, but today it costs between 1,500 afghanis (22 U.S. dollars) to 2,000 Afghanis," Wadood lamented.

Traditionally Afghans, a few days before Eid-ul-Fitar, begin buying new clothes to wear and purchase dry fruits, sweets and pastries to welcome their guests on during Eid.

Eid-ul-Fitar in Afghanistan, however, is being celebrated amid spiraling militancy and growing incidents of violence.

In addition to fighting government forces in different provinces, Taliban militants have conducted a series of deadly suicide bombings since the beginning of Ramadan, two of which took place in the capital city of Kabul.

Twin suicide attacks against police cadets on the western edge of Kabul were launched by militants on June 30 and claimed 32 lives and injured 79 others, with a previous bombing on June 14 killing 14 people, including 12 Nepalese, and injured nine others.

"In fact I have grown up in a war zone and have become accustomed to violent incidents. Bomb blasts, killings and conflicts are routine news in Afghanistan," another shopper, Ahmad Munir, 27, told Xinhua.

Waiting in line for his turn to buy dry fruits, cake and cookies, Munir said nervously that he can't feel safe and is scared that a bomb blast may hit the area any second.

"I am worried about security incidents, but have no choice but to go about my day," Munir murmured, obviously scared, adding that "living under the threat of death, or leaving the country are both extremely difficult choices."

Eid-ul-Fitar, the second annual religious festival, is a three-day public holiday in Afghanistan.

The largest annual religious festival or Eidul Adha is observed two months and 10 days after Eidul Fitar.

Both state-owned and private media outlets including radio and television channels are airing a variety of entertaining programs including stage shows, musicals, local and foreign serials and movies during the Eid holidays.

Despite the entertaining distractions on the TV and radio, Afghans remain concerned that the Taliban militants who have described Ramadan as the month of "Jihad (holy war) and victory" will do their best to disrupt the Eid-ul-Fitar celebrations by organizing deadly acts of terrorism.

"I am hopeful of celebrating the Eid holidays in a peaceful environment and I am calling upon the government to put in place all necessary security measures before the Eid celebrations," Mohammad Jawad, a student, declared in talks with Xinhua. Endit