Again Happy Moulid Al-Nabi to all Muslims around the globe.
Again, a quick explanation for those who do not know: Tonight, millions of Muslims around the globe celebrate Prophet Mohamed's “PBUH” birthday and each country has its own traditions in celebration. In fact, each governorate in Egypt has its own traditions for its important occasion.
It is the time for our special Kodak Agfa annual post to celebrate the Moulid El-Nabawy and this time it is from our favourite El-Sayida Zeinab area.
Due to work pressure, I went to El-Sayida Zeinab to see the famous makeshift Moulid El-Nabawy or Moulid El-Nabi’s market in Cairo in late September in the morning.
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| Moulid El-Nabi for sale at El-Sayeda Zeinab in Cairo |
It is not a secret that Egypt is facing economic hard times, but that makeshift market is always rich and vibrant despite it was not full of customers like at night as I went in the morning during a working day.
The makeshift market is located at the famous El-Sa’d Street right beside the El-Sayida Zeinab Mosque and Shrine which is currently undergoing restoration works.
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| It is in the same location where the Ramadan lanterns and accessories |
It is the same street that hosts the annual Ramadan market as well as El-Sayeda Zeinab’s famous Moulid.
The biggest makeshift Moulid sweets and dolls stand in the market is owned and operated by the family of Um Essam, who got the biggest and I think the oldest makeshift Ramadan lanterns and accessories in the street. “If you follow Kodak Agfa's trips, you will recognize the place”
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| Um Essam's makeshift stand for Moulid sweets and dolls |
I always want to ask the vendors there more about Um Essam and her family and how they got into that business but every time I either forget or I find them too busy to ask them whether with customers or with the goods like that sweet hardworking lady who was packing assorted sweets into boxes for a customer.
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| The Moulid sweets vendor "and yes I asked her permission to photograph and film her too" |
Simply the system in this market is to pick whatever you want from sweets in a cartoon box, and you will pay according to the weight and type.
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| Choosing Moulid sweets |
The price can start from LE 60 to LE 160 per kilo instance according to the sweets type according to one vendor.
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| Another makeshift stand at the market |
When I asked about the prices and whether they are different from last year's prices, especially with the current economic crisis, I was told that they were the same.
Many of those sweets, if not all of them are made in the famous Bab El-Bahr street in Downtown Cairo where the Moulid sweets industry and manufacturing are concentrated.
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| Moulid sweets from every type and colour at the market |
The vendors also told me that they had more customers than last year which is great for them indeed in these times.
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| More and more sweets from sugary nuts to Turkish delights |
It is a bit surprising to me because, in other areas, mostly the Upper classes areas you will find higher prices with prices can reach over LE 1,000 and fewer customers than last year.
Now in the popular and working-class areas, you can find the famous Moulid Dolls.
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| Handmade Moulid dolls in the market. Those are mix of Valentine meets home Hindu shrine at Moulid |
I did not see that original Sugar Moulid doll or horse as last year. I think their sellers used to come at night.
But I saw various shapes for the famous Moulid horse or Moulid. Here is a cutout of a cute cartoonish horse figure.
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| Moulid horse cutout at the market |
There was a horse cushion sold for LE 36.
Some historians say that the Sugar Moulid doll and horse go back to ancient Egypt, and honestly, I believe them.
Instead of edible dolls, I found those handmade plastic dolls.
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| The red dolls are musical ones |
The red dolls are musical ones and usually, that type is more expensive. They remind me of Scarlet O'Hara and her big dresses.
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| More Moulid dolls at the market |
Some of those dolls were handmade in Menouf at a factory called “El-Sheikh Makram” and that shows to how far the Moulid El-Nabawy industries extend and the role they play in the Egyptian local economy, especially in the grey economy.
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| More Moulid dolls with Disney princesses on the box |
We are speaking about doll plastics, their design and clothes and cartoon boxes, a whole-season industry.
We got also the fabrics and the glitters. From searching online, I found out that this industry many women work in it as an additional seasonal income.
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| More handmade dolls for sale |
And yes they look a bit scary that they fit to be part of Halloween at the end of the Month
Now this year I found that couple as Moulid Doll, a Moulid doll as a bride and a man with a tarboosh or fez interestingly.
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| The Moulid couple at the market |
The couple is the most expensive doll in that collection. They are sold for LE 260. The prices of dolls can start as low as LE 30 and jump up to LE 260, the price of the couple.
There are small handmade dolls too.
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| Small size handmade moulid dolls |
Interesting to see that this handmade moulid doll features the photo of popular Egyptian actress Mona Zaki and legendary comedian Abdel Fattah El-Kosary. I understand why they chose Zaki but I do not understand why El-Kosary.
To be honest, now I got a quest on my list to know who designs those Moulid dolls. ALso , what do they do with the dolls that are not sold !? I think they take the plastic body and make them wearing a new set of clothes , I suppose.
Wait inshallah for a Quick Camera trip video soon.
nice
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