Nights turn Ramzan's young rituals and reflect social bonding, happening bonhomie during Ramzan

JAIPUR: As the members of Muslim community observe Roza (fast) during the holy month of Ramzan, the days become 'inactive' like night, and nights become young and happening for the eateries serving culinary delights. The whole economics of small dhabas and takeaways changes as most of them refrain from cooking during the day and bring culinary delights as the devotees start Iftaari.
Many non-vegetarian food lovers who don't observe Roza get surprised when they visit the markets of Hasanpura, Jalupura and Ramganj Bazaar during the daytime as the shops and streets wear a deserted look. But the evening is loaded with culinary delights varying from 'nahari', 'paya', 'chicken changezi', 'kebabs' and lot more.
TOI visited the markets in the city to get the feel of not only the delicacies but also of the overall mood of the markets and life during Ramzan.
Aslam Gauri, a 60-year-old man who owns a small eatery at Badi Chaupar, said, "A person on Roza can break his fast at the Iftar time every day with a light diet of fruits including dates and papaya. After offering Isha Ki Namaz, he can have a full meal course and can again have some meal at Sehari from 2.45 am to 3.45 am every day." When asked if it is fixed that a person on Roza (fast) should have three meals from Iftar to Sehari, Nadeem Khan, a youth near Jama Ma jjid said while getting nahari and ke babs parcelled, said, "One can't have three meals from 7.30 pm to 3.45 am. Usually, people take ample of fruits during Iftaar, have some sizzlers, sip some tea and take final meal at the Sehari time. There are people who take dates to break their fast at Iftaari and then have a full course of various varieties of non-vegetarian food and just wake up for prayers at the time of Sehari."
During the month of Ramzan, the work schedule of eateries also changes as they refrain from cooking in the daytime.
"During Ramzan, our customers visit us from evening to the wee hours, so there is no point in cooking during the daytime. We start cooking at 7.30 pm onwards," said Sadiq Ahamed, who owns a dhaba in Hasanpura locality.