Hyderabad’s ₹800 crore Haleem business during Ramadan is lost to coronavirus lockdown

• The holy month of Ramadan this year falls between late April and late May.
• This year, Charminar will bear a deserted look and Haleem will be missed as people take precautionary measures during the coronavirus lockdown.
• Muslim clerics in Hyderabad requested people to offer prayers at home and ensure that no more than 5 people are in a mosque at the same time.

Every year during Ramadan, the city of Nizams – Hyderabad lights up. The smell of Haleem takes over the night air and biryani restaurants gear up for massive orders. If you have lived in Hyderabad, a night walk in the old city through the markets of Charminar is a pleasure during the festival month.

This year, Charminar will bear a deserted look and Haleem will be missed because of the coronavirus lockdown. The holy month of Ramadan this year falls between late April and late May.

The apparel, footwear and food markets of Charminar which come alive during the holy month, are also a huge source of business for the residents of the old city.

People wait throughout the year to devour a bowl of the mouth-watering Haleem, but this year the favourite dish of many Hyderabadis might be rarer. According to reports, the Haleem Makers Association decided to not sell or cook the dish during the lockdown. The haleem business is reported to be worth ₹800 crore in Hyderabad alone.

Muslim clerics in Hyderabad have even requested people to offer prayers at home and ensure that no more than 5 people are in a mosque at the same time.

Even during non-festival times, the city which loves to eat out, also banks heavily on street corners with homemade foods - referred to as curry points. However, all this has come to a close. Telangana has already ordered the extension of the lockdown until May 7 and has also banned food delivery services like Zomato and Swiggy. The state has 873 coronavirus cases with 190 cured and 23 dead.

WHO releases Safe Ramadan practices

Globally too the festival might be devoid of pomp and glory. The World Health Organization has released an interim guidance titled "Safe Ramadan practices in the context of the Covid-19".

"Practice physical distancing by strictly maintaining a distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) between people at all times. Use culturally and religiously sanctioned greetings that avoid physical contact, such as waving, nodding, or placing the hand over the heart," said the document.

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