Fruits and dates

As people fast during the day, and hardly find any time to spare in the evenings, the shopping is mostly done after 8 pm, and it continues till 'sehr' or the pre-dawn meals.

Dates and all varieties of fruits flood the market during the entire month as Muslims prefer them for 'Iftar' or breaking the fast. Thousands of vendors set up businesses on the footpaths from Afzalgunj Bus Stop to Charminar.

Dates or Khajoor are usually available in the most number of varieties during Ramadan - Marium, Fharadh, Ajwa, Dry Khajoor, Chuhara, and Honey khajoor, Dry Black Khajoor, Kimia and Aral Shar etc.

Mohd Sohil, who sells dates, said, “Many people, who cannot afford to buy fruits, buy dates. The religious reason behind preferring dates is our Prophet Muhammad who said, ‘If anyone of you is fasting, break your fast with dates.’

And even our Prophet used to break his fast by eating some dates. By the end of the Ramadan festival we get profit up to Rs 10,000.” Apart from dates, mangoes are the most favourite fruits this year.