INDIA: Ramadan delicacy competition aims to promote communal harmony in Indias southern state, shopkeepers say.

Record ID: 1374650

  • Title: INDIA: Ramadan delicacy competition aims to promote communal harmony in Indias southern state, shopkeepers say.
  • Date: 16th August 2012
  • Summary: PARTICIPANTS PREPARING HALEEM LOCALS GATHERED
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2012 23:18
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAEP382DWK5SZ5323985TANH1UC
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: With an aim to promote communal harmony among Hindus and Muslims, shopkeepers in Hyderabad city of India's southern Andhra Pradesh state organised Haleem making competition on Monday (August 13), which is most famous delicacy in consumed in the holy month of Ramadan.
    A competition is held every year during the holy month of Ramadan, by the most famous sweet shop in the heart of the Hyderabad city, where the bond of brotherhood is seen among Hindus and Muslims.
    10 teams participated in the competition where each team comprised of one Hindu and one Muslim member.
    Muslims enjoy Haleem, the Ramadan month's most popular dish that hails from the south. The savored dish is a mouth-watering delight. It has its origin in the Mughal cuisine, which is made of wheat, mutton, gram, pulses, curd, onions and vegetable oil with a sprinkling of spices, is a much-sought meal during Ramadan.
    Speaking to the reporter a legislator of the regional All India Majli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan said that this is the 7th edition of the competition and the winners are awarded with cash prizes.
    "This has been a tradition with Pista house to conduct competition for making Haleem and this year also they are holding this competition and the winners who will achieve first three positions will be awarded with a cash prize by Pista house. This is a very good example of communal harmony because both Hindu and Muslim participate in the competition at the same level. Pista house makes an effort to encourage the communal harmony in the down town area of the city and thus, conducts this competition every year," said Khan.
    Haleem is considered ideal for fast-breaking in Ramadan. The delicacy has also gained popularity outside the country with its increasing demand.
    Hyderabad's Haleem is cooked on fire wood hearth to maintain its aroma. It takes a lot of time to prepare it.
    Talking to the reporter a sweet shop owner, Mohammad Abdul Masjeed said that this competition creates awareness about the benefits of Haleem in the city.
    "The aim of this competition 'kisme kitna hai dum' organised by Pista is that we have made 10 teams and in every team there is one Hindu and one Muslim which results in communal harmony between people of both the religion," said Masjeed.
    Winners are entitled with the cash prizes of rupees 10,000 ($179.74), 5,000 and 3,000 according to the rank 1st 2nd and 3rd.
    The popularity of the dish has increased even in the cities such as Mumbai and Chennai and the restaurant owners prefer to hire the chefs all the way from Hyderabad to cook it.
    Ramadan the ninth month of the Hijri Lunar calendar honours the revelation of the holy Koran to Prophet Muhammad and has traditionally been a time of religious fervour.
    During this month, Muslims do not consume food or water from dawn to dusk. They eat Sehri (a small pre-dawn meal) and at dusk, they break the daylong fast with the Iftar (fast-breaking).
    According to holy Koran, it is a considered to be a Sunnah practice to break the fast by eating dates and drinking water.
    Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and preaches discipline.
    It is believed that observing Roza for 30 days or 29 days (depending upon the sighting of moon) secures an individual a place in heaven and also brings them face to face with Allah -- the Almighty -- on the day of Qayamat (The day of Judgement).
    It concludes with the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which will be celebrated on August 19 (depending on the sighting of moon).
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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