Pindi’s historic Ramazan bazaars open

Four of Rawalpindi’s oldest sehri and iftar bazaars have become operational after being decorated and started serving the citizens during Ramazan.

Special stalls and pushcarts have also been set up for sehri and iftar in all posh areas of the city.

The largest and most traditional sehri and iftar bazaar, which dates back 50 years, is set up at Kartarpura, close to Bani Chowk. There are around 50 small and large shops on both sides of this 15-foot wide and 950-foot long sahri cum iftar bazaar.

The five varieties of nihari, til (sesame), kalonji (nigella), desi ghee naan, paratha, and chane phatore are the most well-known dishes of this historic sehri bazaaar. Along with food items, lassi with sweet and salty flavours is also available in huge antique brass glasses. Having proper seating arrangements, the sehri bazaar starts every day at 8pm.

The customers have to get tokens first to buy “Kaalay ki nihari”, a shop that has been doing food business for the last 50 years. Makhni chaane, paaye, chicken chaane, broth and dry chaane, aloo keema, aloo mattar, tikkay, kebab, makkhan tarke ki ojhri, sabzi gosht, daal gosht, aloo gosht, saag makayi ki roti, paratha, and roghni naan are also available at the most frequented outlet.

Read: Cheap Ramazan bazaars project shelved

During the holy month, special cooks are invited to the famous sehri bazaar from Lahore, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad. All shops are also decorated with colourful lights to attract the attention of people who fast. At midnight, the bazaar gives a day’s look. Several shopkeepers have stationed their employees wearing traditional turbans and elegant rural attire to woo the customers.

In addition, there are shops and kiosks selling milk, butter, yoghurt, desi ghee, and various beverages. The sehri bazaar in Kartarpura is visited each day by females and families from Islamabad to buy special naans, parathas, and nihari. A good number of children also accompany their parents.

The bazaar chocks with the visitors and traffic after 2am till sehri time.

Families and groups of youngsters gather for sehri and enjoy eating and sweet lassi. Apart from sehri, daily breakfasts are also arranged here. The people of the twin cities flood the bazaar for breakfast on routine days. One of the most congested bazaars in downtown lacks traffic, parking and security arrangements.

Moreover, sehri and breakfast bazaars in Khatiyan Hattian Lunda Bazaar, Bhabra Bazaar, and Kashmiri Bazaar have also been serving customers for the last 50 years or so.

Seasoned politician Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also regularly visits the Kashmiri Bazaar at Fawara Chowk for breakfast and sehri. These sehri bazaars are at their height this year as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2024.