The holy month of Ramzan is a period of penance and piety for the Muslim community. It is also a month of fasting and feasting on culinary delicacies. Cities across Karnataka, like elsewhere in India, see special eating hubs spring up every evening in this month, as those who fast from dawn to sunset break it with Iftar.

Here we take a look at how Iftar is observed in some of our cities.

Many destinations, many flavours

During the month of Ramzan, many parts of Bengaluru transform into a hub of culinary delights in the evenings, offering residents and visitors an array of delectable Iftar options. 

Some of the city’s most cherished spots for Ramzan feasting are those in Frazer Town and Koramangala that have emerged as prominent destinations. Similarly, Shivajinagar and Rahmath Nagar have long been go-to places for Iftar, especially known for their kebabs and seekhs. Johnson Market is also a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, making it a must-visit during Ramzan. 

In southern Bengaluru, Tilak Nagar, B.T.M. Layout, Iliyaz Nagar are areas where you can indulge in Ramzan delicacies. The areas are known for serving everything from chicken kebabs to haleem, to flavored sodas and unique desserts.  

Meanwhile, luxury hotels across the city including Marriott Hotel and Sheraton Grand in Whitefield, Hilton Embassy in Nagavara, J.W. Mariott in Ashok Nagar and more are hosting Iftar parties for a grand experience. 

Breaking fast en masse

In the coastal city of Mangaluru, Kutch Memon Masjid, said to be built in 1839, is among the places where Muslims break fast en masse. It is the second oldest masjid in Mangaluru. According to the Department of Tourism, the masjid at Bunder was built by Sulaiman Ali Seth and popularly known as “Kutchi” and “Katchikarepalli.” Memons are originally from Kutch region of Gujarat who came to Mangaluru for trading especially in supari and species.

Some service-oriented organisations too host Iftar in some places where food is served freely. One such place is in front of Hotel Empire, near Rao and Rao Circle in Mangaluru where labourers and drivers are served food. In another place near Highland Hospital at Falnir, many people are served food. A large number of students gather here to break fast.

Shoppers’ and foodies’ delight

As in Ramzan every year, Meena Bazaar on Sawday Road in Mysuru has transformed into shoppers and foodies’ delight this year as well in the city of Mysuru.

While Ramzan delicacies including samosas, kebabs, a variety of sweets and juices beckon the foodies, the roadside shops and pushcarts draw shoppers with an attractive array of garments including salwars, sarees and kurtas, besides footwears and trinkets.

Ramzan is the peak business period for not only the shops in Meena Bazaar on Sawday Road, but also the shops situated in the bylanes that display a variety of scarves, stoles and other accessories for women.

As the number of visitors to Meena Bazaar only increase in the days approaching Eid, the authorities have barred vehicular traffic on the stretch of Sawday Road from Ashoka Road to K.T. Street.

‘Belaum Biryani’ is all the rage

In Belagavi, Ramzan’s culinary practices are both classical and innovative. Speciality beverages, date syrup with buffalo milk, rooh afzah and hot milk with cream chironji and chia seeds and a variety of juices like watermelon, mango, kokum and bael fruit are among the special treats.

The sweets that leave a lingering taste in the mouth are dry fruit paste mixed with molasses, hand woven sevian sweets with apricot, among many others.

The mainstay of the cuisine remain meat dishes like Harees and Haleem. Both are high calorie foods that are aimed at recharging the body after a day of fasting.

The one dish that has earned its right place on the list of unmissable dishes of tourists is the “Belgaum Biryani.” It is slow cooked long grain rice, soaked in kitchen stock and mixed with lamb meat and boiled vegetables. It is eaten along with a chutney of ginger and garlic, amaranth and coriander.

Several parts of the city, like Khade Bazar, Bauxite road, Khanjar Galli, Angol, Jhatphat colony and Peeranwadi come alive with the festive spirit. Streets and gullies turn into eating streets as all kinds of shops turn into temporary kitchens and food vending stalls. Ramzan takeaway meals are not just prepared by restaurants or food joints, but also some home makers. In areas like Khade bazar and Nehru Nagar, women prepare meat dishes in bulk and sell them on a per-kilogram basis.

(With inputs from Yemen S., Raviprasad Kamila, Laiq A. Khan, and Rishikesh Bahadur Desai)