While the city’s Muslim brethren are gearing up for Ramzan shopping, traders selling roasted ‘semiya’ (vermicelli) have started bringing stock in bulk from markets of old city in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad in Gujarat to enable families serve the lip-smacking special dessert during Eid.
Several shopkeepers have stocked the shelves with ‘semiya’ packets weighing between 400 grams and one kg for the benefit of devotees. The locally made ‘semiya’ costs less while the product that was brought from Hyderabad and Ahmedabad costs more because of its speciality, say traders. The cost varies from Rs.30 to Rs.80 and the fine quality vermicelli costs up to Rs.150.
Shopkeepers at Panja Centre, Labbipeta, Gandhibhomma, Arundalpet, Sanathnagar and old check-post in Autonagar have already imported packed stock of vermicelli. A few vendors from Hyderabad’s old city are also coming to put up make shift stalls at important areas to sell the Hyderabadi special roasted ‘semiya’. “Every year, vendors from Hyderabad visit Vijayawada and make brisk business. The festival season fetches more profits to them,” says a shopkeeper Syed Ibrahim from Kaleswararao Market.
Almost a dozen varieties of sweet dish could be prepared using this ‘semiya’ made of maida flour and the most popular among them is ‘Sheer Khorma’ that is served during Ramzan festival. “The dish is served to the visiting guests throughout the day on the festival day,” New Mordern Supermarket Manager Mohammed Shoaib explains.
‘Semiya’ makers in Hyderabad’s old city say that they have started preparing it for the past six months. “We are now selling at least 50 kgs of vermicelli every day. As the festival draws nearer, the demand also picks up,” says Anwar Khan from Chaderghat in Hyderabad. Customers from Guntur, Vijayawada, Kurnool and other far off places from Andhra Pradesh visit Hyderabad one week before Eid and purchase ‘semiya’ packets in bulk to sell it locally.
