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The month of May, the month of summer vacations, is packed with multiple events and openings to keep you engaged with family and friends. Ramadan, on the other hand, steals away this thunder to the holy Islamic month. With majority of the Muslim population residing in the Old City, all areas around the Mughal Architectural attraction lighten with contagious smiles and fragrances, busy hustle and Haleem. From dry fruits to Mehendicones, everything you need to make Ramadan special is available within the maze of the Old City.

Picture Courtesy Model: Manish Bekkem Photographer: Nihal Shanigaram Outfit: Sagar Tenali

Sleepless Festive Grandiose in Old City

Charminar, with its Mughal history, brings thousands of tourists and heritage enthusiasts to revel in its beauty. During Ramadan, however, the Old City bustles with vendors and makeshift shops and two wheelers and people at every corner leaving barely any space to breathe. Spread with fruit bazaars and food bazaars and the fragrances of pure attars, at the popular Night Bazaars, cacophony of bargaining and shopping surrounds Charminar from all directions.

Sparkles and Stones

With extensive historical theories about its origin, the Laad Bazaar is popular among women for the wide range of bangles. The space glitters and shines with gold and reflecting light from Stones. Sparkling with the tradition of the bygone days, Laad Bazaar is everyone’s go to destination for bangles shopping. Spanning over four roads, weddings and parties, casuals and concerts, this place is loved by all. During Ramadan, the roads sparkle more and bustle more with more people and more love.

Ramadan, that is, the Haleem season is here and new businesses have opened along with old ones continuing. Haleem is not just food but love and memories shared amongst loved ones during the fast. The streets of Old City buzz livelier than the rest of the city with Haleem recipes new and old, traditional and experimental, taking up space on the streets. With crowded roads after sunset, Haleem makes for a vibrant night life in the Old City and the rest of Hyderabad.

Hyderabad’s Hearty Haleem

Love and Smiles at Laad Bazaar

Laad Bazaar’s crowd throughout the year is very famous, more popular is the loss of breathable space during Ramadan. With prohibition of vehicles in the Bazaar for the entire holy month, streets are spanned with markets and pedlars selling bangles and seviyan for everyone. Chatter and laughter is heard from all corners on these crowded streets.

Picture Courtesy Model: Manish Bekkem Photographer: Nihal Shanigaram Outfit: Sagar Tenali

Is Eid even Eid without Mehendi?

With dynamic changes in designs and trends in Mehendi, Eid-Ul-Fitr is incomplete without it. The Old City is filled with Mehendi artists and Mehendi cones for all those who love the Henna art that celebrates earthly pleasures after the four-week fast that emphasizes on spirituality of life and glorifies women. Intricate patterns that uphold traditions are seen on everyone’s hands and legs and reflect in the markets during Ramadan celebrating the same. Arabics and geometrics, florals and glitters, the Old City is an abode to all women for the grandiose of Eid.

Photographer: Maria Zaki

Everything you need for an authentic Sheer Khurma

Seviyan and dry fruits make up for the main ingredients of the traditional dessert Sheer Khurma and the Old City, especially around Charminar, boast of a few remaining and slowly fading traditionally made seviyan. Almonds and pistachios and dried dates are found on every corner to add the crunchy element to the most loved dessert that concludes the month of Ramzan. An essential to the month of Ramadan, Old City, yet again, sweetens your taste buds with traditionality!

Photographer: Maria Zaki

Heavenly Fragrances

Old fragrances of Jasmines and Roses, new scents of mint and musk take over the streets in the Old City. Long lasting, in tiny bottles, these skin-friendly attars are loved by women who carry multiple fragrances in their purses wherever they go. With its rich history associated with Noorjahan, attars are a cultural embracement. During Ramzan, this cultural restatement comes alive through traditional attars and modern attars widening their consumer base by attracting youngsters as well!

Fresh Fruity Feasts

The fruit bazaars around Charminar are not unknown. With Summer here, Mangoes are flooding the markets, making choices easier with their natural freshness and fruity delights. Customers are presented with an assortment of fruits from mundane apples to quality kiwis to choose from. With colours and scents, richness of nature is made available around Charminar throughout the year with an increased demand during the holy month.

Marking the first day of breaking the four-week fast, thousands gather at this Masjid, built by Quli Qutub Shah in 1857, to offer their Eidul- fitrprayers. Dressed in kurta-pyjamas after spraying themselves with traditional attar, the fast is broken by sweetening the mouths of brothers and sisters wishing them happiness and love by feasting on seviyan and sheer khurma. With a spiritual celebration of the self and the world, people rejoice in togetherness.

Picture Courtesy Model: Manish Bekkem Photographer: Nihal Shanigaram Outfit: Sagar Tenali

Elegant Ethnics

The streets around the four pillars spill over with extravagant clothing which are a major cultural representation of the festivities and traditions that surround Ramadan. Sequins and glitter, mirrors and heavy fabrics, bright colours and gold borders shine from all corners that make choosing a dress extremely difficult. Women and men alike are seen deciding and contemplating on what to wear for Eid.

Celebrating Togetherness- Ft. Hyderabadi Family traditions in Ramadan

Lights blink on in homes as night falls on a community. The scent of food begins to waft into the evening air. It smells extra delicious to the people in the homes, who haven’t eaten all day. They’re observing Ramadan, a sacred month in the religion of Islam. And the darkened sky is a signal that it’s time to feast! Ramadan is celebrated by thousands of Muslims around the world as it is a joyous celebration full of delicious meals and family reunions. We had a quick chat with few of our favourite families from the city and learnt about their family traditions, Eid plans etc. Read on to see if you share the same beliefs and traditions as them!

Iftaar With TheBeg Family

What’s your denition of the purpose of Ramadan? Shakila: Ramadan for me is a period of the cleansing of not just the body, but also of the soul by abstaining, not just from food and drink, but from negative moods and thoughts whilst inculcating a spirit of generosity (zakat) and empathy.

How is this year of Ramadan in quarantine going to be dierent from that of every year? Amer: My daughter, Sehr, turned 7 on the 16th of March and to celebrate it my brother Samir Beg, his wife Tej Bhabi and his boys Zahan and Mikhail came to Hyderabad. As a blessing in disguise they got stranded here and couldn’t go back to Pune, so it’s been extra special this year for them to be around and the family to be together for the entire month of Ramadan and not just the Eid.

What changes do you make in Ramadan to your technology usage, social life and diet? Amer: I try and spend time reading the Quran and improving my knowledge of Islam as opposed to watching tv or being on my phone too much. Socially, I’m anyway difficult to get a hold off so that stays the same. When it comes to my diet, it’s quite a challenge because I normally eat every hour and in Ramadan, it gets put on hold but I don’t overeat when it’s time for iftar. What are the dierent cuisines made at home for iftar? Samir: At the Beg household it’s a traditional Hyderabadi iftaar. My mother makes the most scrumptious food (and I promise I’m not being biased). There’s channa daal with lemon, dahi wade, seasonal fruits (loads of mango this season), banana or guava chaat salad, Haleem along with fresh juices.

What’s your secret to staying motivated and consistent throughout Ramadan, especially when you hit the mid-Ramadan slump? Tejuswini: I enjoy and cherish the traditions that come along with Ramadan so I don’t necessarily hit a slump. I look forward to this month and love the Sehri’s and the Iftaar’s and the family sitting together.

What is the biggest positive change any particular Ramadan has brought to your life? Shakila: Every Ramadan brings about personal development and reform to be a better human where one can introspect and do away with bad habits, bad practices and learn to be kind to others, be generous, be patient and tolerant for one another so the positive change has been constant every Ramadan.

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Kebabs With The Khans

What’s your definition of the purpose of Ramadan?

Mahnoor: Ramadan is a month of Mercy, blessings and forgiveness. It is one's chance to detoxify from all the negative elements and focus on bettering ourselves in every way.

How is this years Ramadan going to be different from that of every years?

Imran: This year's Ramadan is definitely going to be different from the previous two years which went in covid. This year we get to attend taraweeh prayers and meet relatives and celebrate the festivities of Ramzan properly.

What changes do you make in Ramadan to your technology usage, social life, diet?

Jibran: I consciously limit technology usage, work and socializing during Ramadan since each day counts. I believe one should make the most of this month by praying more, helping the poor with charity and refrain from engaging in activities that are not necessary. It's said good deeds are multiplied and the bad deeds are forgiven in this blessed month. Thus, we should try to gain as much as we can.

What are the different cuisines made at home for iftaar?

Zoha: My mom prepares a wide variety of home cooked dishes that include Mutton Haleem, Dahi wadey, Hummus with pita bread, Fruit chaat, Quesadillas, Fried pakoras, Mutton and chicken kebabs, burgers, chicken tarts and much more!! It's always an amalgamation of different cuisines set on the table for Iftar. Definitely ,a feast and family bonding time to enjoy a luscious spread!!

What’s your secret to staying motivated and consistent throughout Ramadan, especially when you hit the midRamadan slump?

Imran: I always plan for Ramadan in advance. I make sure I'm reading the chapters of the Qur'an in a way that I'm certain to finish it in X number of days. It's always a plus to finish it sooner and start again! This helps me be motivated throughout the month and beat the mid Ramadan slump and gain some extra brownie points!

What is the biggest positive change any particular Ramadan has brought to your life?

Mahnoor: It's helped me be closer to my religion and excercise it in the correct way through out the year. Every year it helps me to improvise on something that I've lacked and work on it to be better than before.

What do you plan on wearing this Eid?

Zoha: The last two years have been so dull due to covid with no actual celebration. Hence, this year I'm all geared up to celebrate Eid in a happy spirit. I'm planning on wearing a Designer lucknowi Dress with Chikankari Mukaish work on it.

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Haleem With The Khans

Fruit Salad With TheKhaleels

What’s your definition of the purpose of Ramadan? Noorin: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is more auspicious because during this month the holy Quran was revealed to our Prophet (PBUH).

How is this year’s Ramadan going to be different from that of every year? Zara: Definitely this Ramadan will be more different. It will be fun from the past two Ramadans, as well all know it was tough past two years because of covid and last RAMADAN the wave was at its peak. If God permits this RAMADAN will be fun with Iftar parties, tarawi prayers at mosques, late-night shopping, and eating with friends and family.

What changes do you make in Ramadan to your technology usage, social life, and diet? Wajid: Ramadan teaches me so many things, fasting what we do it’s a test of yourself from the cravings and habits that you are used to them. The advantage of fasting is it detoxifies your body, now days people around do intermittent fasting for the same. One of the best things is that you are away from your daily routine stuff like watching webseries movies, one the phone checking out Instagram and Facebook or Snapchat it gives me time to read Quran pray namaz on time, and spiritually get connected to Allah. Diet I keep It simple sehri what we do before sunrise it is of little carbs fibers and proteins…which keep you energetic throughout the day and Iftar after sunset it’s fun when you open the fast you fill urself with juices fruits, dates, of course, Haleem which is rich in everything yummy and tasty. Dinner usually I have mild because of the heavy Iftar. What are the different cuisines made at home for iftaar? Zartasha: The cuisine is much more elaborate and fun to have during Iftar…after almost 13-14 hours of fast you crave so many things…I love my home Dahi Wada and boiled yellow dal with green topping and lemon Is patent, other things like bhajiye, Mirchi, chaat and Haleem can’t miss on that and fruit salad with chat masala.

What’s your secret to staying motivated and consistent throughout Ramadan, especially when you hit the mid-Ramadan slump? Hamed: Ramadan is the holy month in which you fast pray and ask for forgiveness, feed the poor it gives you the biggest satisfaction of life greet people, do compromises with enemies, and in your fast the duas what you make is accepted that is the motivation, above all charity is done which keeps you motivated too.

What is the biggest positive change any particular Ramadan has brought to your life? Tanveer: In these past Ramadans of my life I have learned to be patient, value food cleansing your self from habits which could be anything from smoking to backbiting to hurting anyone and repent on your bad deeds and ask forgiveness, and above all, you get into the habit of praying namaaz and not telling lies.

What do you plan on wearing this Eid? Hamed: Pathani or Punjabi suit with a sadri or court is my favorite Eid dress.

Chaat With The Sajids

What’s your definition of the purpose of Ramadan?

Emaan: Ramadan gives me the opportunity to celebrate faith & togetherness with family over food and prayer.

How is this year’s Ramadan going to be different from that of every year?

Ahad: This Ramadan particularly is going to be different because we’re going to get the opportunity to perform Taraweeh, and attend public, family gatherings. Something I look forward to.

What changes do you make in Ramadan to your technology usage, social life, and diet?

Uzma: I personally go on a social detox, decreased screen time, less socializing, healthier food, and a deeper connection with God.

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to forget the traditional spread which does not vary.

What’s your secret to staying motivated and consistent throughout Ramadan, especially when you hit the midRamadan slump?

Ahad: The motivation is to pray and ask for forgiveness for the rest of the 11 months. Ramadan is a gift to the Ummah, a soul-cleansing month.

What is the biggest positive change any particular Ramadan has brought to your life?

Emaan: Every Ramadan I try to learn specific small deeds and include them in my daily routine. This Ramadan I plan on taking up Hijab - covering the head & dressing modestly.

What are the different cuisines made at home for iftaar?

Mohd: I prefer Arab, Mexican, American, and lots of Chaat options. Not

What do you plan on wearing this Eid?

Uzma: For Eid, I plan on wearing something colorful, maybe a captivating gharara.