South Lebanon popular souks between past and present

Al Diyar daily published an article featuring the popular street markets located in South Lebanon as opposed to ancient souks. The newspaper highlighted some of the popular weekly souks, like the one in Bint Jbail which is held every Thursday since tens of years, and the Nabatieh which is held every Monday. Speaking to one citizen from the South, Ali Bazzi, the newspaper quoted him as saying that the popular markets boast its regular customers and low prices compared to other shops or stores in the city. “People used to look forward to visiting them from week to week”, he said, adding that people moved over the week from one souk to another in the region. Among other famous souks were those of Qana, Haris, Edaysseh, Bazooriyyeh, Juwayya, Abbassiyyeh, Shaqra, etc.. 
“50 years ago, the souk contributed significantly to the overall local economic process,” he adds, drawing a comparison between old and modern marketplaces. “The ancient souks carried everything you can think of from goods and products, even livestock, unlike today where everything has become catalogued and specialized,” Ali said. For his part, Hussein Ismael, from Zawtar said that in the past people went to the markets not only for shopping. When it was lunch time, they ate out at small restaurants before they resumed their errands in the afternoon. Today, however, the visitor comes and leaves quickly,” he said, adding that electric appliances now dominates the stands. Another citizen from the town of Mayfadoon told the newspaper, “Earlier people came to the Nabatieh market to shop carrying a long list of grocery items and products, unlike today where you can find everything you need at the town’s shops and boutiques.” (Al Diyar, 8 March 2015)