KHARTOUM, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Counting down to Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Sudanese people have started a rush for jalabiya, a traditional robe in Sudan and other Nile Basin countries typically worn on grand occasions.

       In Sudan, jalabiya tends to go with other accessories, such as the long Emma turban, the short rounded skullcap Taqiyah, the loose baggy trousers Sirwal, and Markoub, traditional Sudanese shoes made of animal skin, especially for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr prayers.

       "The Sudanese are attached to jalabiya and its accessories, and even children wear this traditional dress," said Badreddine Al-Mubarak, owner of a jalabiya store in a market in Bahri town, north of the capital Khartoum.

       "Different types of jalabiya vary in shape, design, and even fabrics used," added Abdul-Wahid Abdalla, a famous jalabiya tailor in Bahri town.

       Both told Xinhua that the higher prices of jalabiya, caused by the increased costs of the industry, have not discouraged most of the Sudanese from purchasing at least one piece.

       "There is still a robust demand for jalabiya, and we expect the demand to increase as the Eid approaches," Abdalla noted.

       As Sudan's national costume, Jalabiya is a long loose-fitting, white garment with a rounded neckline. More precisely, it is an ankle-length collarless robe with long sleeves.

       Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government.