Traders here on Saturday said that ahead of Bakrid, the sale of livestock in Ettayapuram Shandy was not as expected.
Traders said that though Shandy was flooded with a huge rush of buyers and sellers from 5 am onwards, business was not as expected.
After the lockdown due to COVID-19, the shanty here, considered one of the largest in the southern districts, attracts businesses, usually buyers and sellers from far and wide. Traders, who brought their cattle, including goats, used the festival to sell and return home with satisfaction.
However, post COVID-19, business has not been encouraging, said S Shahul Hameed of Tenkasi district. He said that the number of visitors is very less. There were very few who took to the high breed varieties of cattle. According to estimates, there were about 5000 goats for sale in the hut.
Shandy’s managers said there was a turnover of Rs 3 crore, which was at least Rs 2 crore less. Earlier, during the eve of Ramzan, Deepawali or Pongal and Bakrid, cattle producers from Dindigul, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Theni etc. used to participate in large numbers and the sales exceeded Rs 5 crore. However, there was little demand and participation was far from satisfying, he said.
He said that Shandy was open since last week and prices have remained the same despite Bakrid, which falls on a Sunday.