Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Mar 02 : The spiritual zeal of the holy month of Ramzan has already begun all around the world, including Kashmir. During this month of sentimental and religious significance, Muslim people pay great attention to prayer and share meals with loved ones to enhance feelings of unity, solidarity, and philanthropy, in addition to fasting from dawn to dusk.
In Kashmir, the first noticeable change is the emptiness of streets that are usually overcrowded with date sellers and fruit vendors. However, the most significant rush and demand is for bakers, locally referred to as “Kandurs.”
With markets across Kashmir coming alive with the arrival of Ramzan, people are busy shopping for essentials, particularly dates and vegetables. There is a significant demand and rush for “Kandur,” traditional Kashmiri bakers who offer a wide variety of baked goods. These include “lavasa” (a lighter version of bread), “gheyv czhot” (soft yet solid bread prepared with ghee), “shirmal” (flat milk bread sprinkled with poppy seeds), “katlam” (flaky and deep-fried bread), “tchvoar” (crispy bread sprinkled with sesame seeds), “kulcha” (crispy, round-shaped bread sprinkled with poppy seeds), and “bakirkhani” (ghee-soaked puff pastry).
In various markets, including the summer city, the shops of Kashmiri bakers (Kandurs) are crowded after Zuhr prayers. Similarly, the scene in the villages of Kashmir is not much different; bakers experience high sales during this holy month of Ramazan.
Speaking to The Web Story/The Varmul Post, Gul Kak, a famous Kandur from North Kashmir, mentioned that while his business remains steady throughout the year, sales peak during the holy month of Ramadan. He noted that there is a constant rush of customers from morning, with high demand for Normal Girda, Kulcha, Bikerkhani, and Shirmaal, as well as Roth or Roath, which are also in high demand during Ramadan.
“During this holy month, we sell an increased variety of bread, with roats being particularly popular,” said Abdul Razak, another well-known Kandur in the Baramulla district, Speaking to The Web Story/The Varmul Post. He said “For the past two years, we have also started taking orders. The demand is such that we often have to make three times the usual quantity in one day.”
The Web Story/The Varmul Post has engaged in similar conversations about the high demand for Kashmiri bread during this holy month with various traditional bakers (Kandurs). They reported that nearly 90 percent of families in Kashmir prefer bread during Ramzan, leading to a significant increase in their sales and overall demand.
Meanwhile, markets in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley have taken on a festive appearance since Saturday as people began shopping. There is a heavy rush of customers in bakeries, confectioneries, and toy shops with the arrival of Ramazan.
