Going to the Old City during Ramzan is an experience in itself, thanks to delicacies, glitzy lights, the cacophony of shopkeepers advertising their ware and a sea of humanity whose presence there brings the whole place to life.
This year however, the story is different as most of the roads radiating from Charminar wear a deserted look. Many shop owners say it is because of reopening of schools clashing with Ramzan while others say it is the result of haleem being easily available across Hyderabad.
“Many parents are busy purchasing school books and uniforms for their children, which is why the market is down in general till now,” said Aziz Ahmed, a trader at Laad Bazar.
Mr. Ahmed, who runs Khaja Bangles, pointed out that 15 days into Ramzan, there is enough place to walk on the streets, be it the Madina-Charminar Road, or other areas like Khilwat and Hussainialam.
True to his word on Wednesday and Thursday nights, the roads were open enough, with bikes easily passing by. In fact, even the Pathergatti Road was not as full as it used be every year at this time.
“Another thing to note is that now establishments like Pista House and Shah Ghouse have outlets everywhere, even in far-off areas like Gachibowli and Madhapur. So the people who would come to the Old City to mainly eat haleem don’t have to anymore.
In a way, it is killing our business,” said Moin (name changed), who works at a stall selling Pathar-ka-Gosht near Hussaini Alam.
M. Abid, who stays near Mir Alam Mandi, said that by the 10{+t}{+h}day of Ramzan, the crowd coming to the Old City after Iftar starts to swell, leading to complete chaos. “But this year traffic is free flowing.
In fact, due to that, even the quantity of haleem being made in well-known places is quite less,” he added.
Mohd. Bari, who runs Sonu Kebabs near Moosabowli, said that once the school season ends, the shoppers will increase.
“It is the month-end and if you couple it with the school reopening, the spending capacity among people will be a little less right now, till they get salaries on July 1,” he said.
Bari also noted that the streets are unusually empty at this time of the Ramzan season this year.
