The price rise has not even spared the practising faithful in the month of Ramazan.

The steep hike in the prices of essential food items has forced the rozedars (people observing fast during Ramazan) to strike a compromise on customs. Rozedars, who till a few years ago, had fruits such as apples, pomegranates and grapes and dry fruits for Iftar, now have to rely on low-priced fruits such as banana, cucumber and radish to break their fast.

Though rozedars still consume apples, pomegranates and grapes, the quantity of consumption has gone down.

Prices of fruits and dry fruits have gone up by 30 to 35 per cent over last year’s prices. The apples imported from the US were priced around Rs 100-Rs 120 a kg last year and are now available in market at Rs 160-Rs 180 a kg. One has to shell out Rs 150- Rs 160 for a kg of pomegranates, a steep rise from last year’s rate of Rs 110- Rs 130 a kg.

Mohammed Wasi, a fruitseller at Sabzibagh, said: “Prices of all fruits have gone up this year, affecting the buyers badly. People who used to purchase 1kg or half kg of apples, pomegranates for breaking their fast now have to purchase 250gm.”

Date (khajoor) is an integral ingredient for the devotees during Ramazan, as they break fast with the fruit. Dates are generally imported from Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq, because they are more fibrous than the Indian variant.

P. Shahid, a cloth merchant in Sabzibagh, said: “According to Islamic teachings, rozedars should break fast with dates and, if not, with water. Dates have medicinal values as well. They are nutritious and act as body supplement.”

He added that dates are mainly imported from Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. Those from Saudi Arabia are more expensive than the Iraqi ones. The Arabian dates are priced at Rs 220-Rs 250 a kg, while those from Iraq are available at Rs 130-Rs 150 a kg. The price of the dates was Rs 150-200 a kg last year, while the Iraqi ones were priced at Rs 100-Rs 130 a kg. The rising prices have affected not only middle-class but the affluent as well. Central University of Bihar registrar Mohammed Nehal said: “The price hike has affected all alike. Hike in petrol and diesel prices has affected prices of dates.”

“Ajwa dates are popular among the devotees to break their fast during Ramazan. These are available this year at Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 a kg, up from Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 a kg last year,” added Nehal.