Get prepared to fork out Rs. 3 L to walk away with Shera

New Delhi: Saleem has travelled all the way long from Sambhal district in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh with his hefty goat whom he calls 'Shera'. With a comb in his hands, he moves towards the goat to comb his hair. The goat enjoys the pamper with it closed eyes as one customer in white kurta-pyjama approaches him.

"How much for this one?," he asks the goat seller. "Rs three lakh" is the humble reply.

The goat has created quite a stir in the seasonal goat market at Jama Masjid with its beauty and the price.

Its not alone, a few meters away in another shed, stands a tall dark goat which is priced at Rs 2.5 lakh.

The goats from Rajasthan's Mewat region are quite a hit in the market.

Price ranging from Rs three thousand to Rs three lakh depends upon the size, weight and beauty of the animal.

Arifa has come from Jamia Nagar in Delhi to buy a goat for sacrifice and finds the market a bit expensive.

"Its slightly on the upper side. The traders are still not in a mood to lower the price. They still have some days left. I might come again a day before and test my bargaining skills," grins Arifa.

The goat market at Jama Masjid, Okhla, Seelampur and Tughlaqabad come up weeks before the Muslim festival of Eid-Ul- Zuha. As the day of the festival approches, the market is seen flooded with variety of goats like Jamnapari, Beetal, Barbari and Sojat.

"Since most of the people in Delhi reside in flats so we are expecting a last moment rush ahead of the festival. It takes great human effort to nurture these goats and we are expecting a good sale this season," says Shamsher Ali, a goat trader from Rajasthan.

Traders are seen cooking and eating at the tents which they have hired for the season. Some were seen napping and some carefully scanning the potential buyers from lots of customers approaching for a price check. "I have just brought my kids to the market. They enjoy it most. I will buy the goat a day ahead of the festival," says Ismail Khan, resident of Dilhad Garden.