Exchange Of Food Items Among Relatives, Neighbors Adds Colours To Iftar Parties

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2019 ) :With the start of third Ashra of 10th holy month of Ramazan, food items' exchange among relatives, friends and neighbors have gained popularity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which were adding colours to Iftar parties.

Food items including cooked rice, chicken meat, pakoras, dahee galay, dates, mangoes, jalebies and sweet dishes are being exchanged among people ahead of iftar, adding spirit of brotherhood and love.

Dates (Kajoors), rice and Pakoras are the most favorite items of people being exchanged ahead of Iftar parties, which are being sold like a hot cake in Peshawar due to its batter taste and quality.

In Peshawar, different types of Pakoras are being prepared like palak pakora, onion pakoras, Gobhi pakora, which are attracting people from all ages including senior citizens, children, women and youth as special iftar item.

The delicious dish is being prepared from different ingredients such as onion, eggs, potatos, chicken and cauliflower after these things are being dipped in a Pakora made flour.

"Pakora is my most favorite item during Iftar and without it my Iftar seems incomplete," said Misal Khan, a retired Govt official busy in shopping at historic Ghanta Ghar chowk at Peshawar.

"Personally, I like chicken pakora because of its better taste and energy's perspective," he said, adding demands of onion and potato Pakora has also increased in local markets including Hasthnagrai, Firdus, Cantonment, board, Tehkal and Hayatabad during Ramadan.

These markets were flooded with Pakora, Jalebi, Dahi Bhalay and Kachalo stalls and shops where hectic buying are being witnessed when Iftar's time becomes nearer.

Like other edible items, he said prices of Pakora has also increased this year as one kiolgoram Pakora is being sold at Rs220-240 per kilogram against Rs180-220 last year that needed to be checked by the district administration. "A few Pakora are enough for me as it is a complete food," Khan said.

This popular snack of the subcontinent origin takes very less time in preparation and is being served as special Iftar meal with any chutney or ketchup to people of all social class.

It is also popular among people of both rural and urban areas and exchanged by relatives and families as Iftar's gifts.

"I am going to my sister home to give her two kilogram Pakora and dates as special Iftar's gift," said Khurshid Alam, a resident of Nowshera.

"Exchange of food dishes among relatives increase love and warmth," he said, adding exchange of food items are to bring people closer to each other," he said.

Zardali Khan, a vendor shopkeeper said he had started this profitable business because it does not require much investment.

He said its price has been increased this year due to hike in prices of related ingredients being used in preparation of this spicy item of the subcontinent.