(From top) Ramzan delicacies on sale and devouts offer prayers at a mosque in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 19: The holy month of Ramzan is on and members of the Muslim community are observing the traditional fast with fervour. While special prayers are being chanted, the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are overflowing with special food items, too, for the Iftar, a community feast held every evening to break the fast. A unique spread of scrumptious dishes is served at the feast everyday.

Date palms and a variety of dry fruits are much sought after for the occasion since the tradition is to break the fast by consuming them. An array of special dishes and sweet preparations are also prepared by the rozedaars (devout fasting during Ramzan), which is shared by guests from the community and outside at the Iftar, held after daily evening prayers.

The lachha and siwayan are among the most popular items during Ramzan, prepared with vermicelli, sugar and milk. Small shacks selling colourful vermicelli, dates, raisins, cashews and various types of fruits like apple, banana, dates and chickpeas have come up on the street sides in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

“Vermicelli is served mostly during Id. But the sale starts from the days of Ramzan as it is also cooked and distributed in the neighbourhood after breaking the daily fast. We sell five different varieties of vermicelli of which some are fried while others are roasted. The devout usually prefer light and normal diet during Ramzan before the fast. But on Id we have an elaborate buffet,” said Md Maqsood Alam, a shopkeeper.

“The fasting is meant to make us realise the importance of nature’s gifts to us like water and food. It makes us patient and humble,” said Saba Bashir, a rozedaar.

“Hence, we take a light meal just before dawn ahead of starting the roza (fast). Bread, buns and fruits and mewa comprise the morning meal. The Iftar is a get-together of the devout Muslims who fast successfully. Thus, a community feast is often held. We break the fast with dates and then, dishes such as ghosht or mutton items like mutton biryani, pulao, haleem with raita and various snacks like dal-vada and bhujia,” she added.

Md Shafique, maulvi of the Jama Masjid in Bhubaneswar, said the food taken during the Iftar mostly includes dry fruits and mutton or milk items so that the body is replenished after the whole day’s fasting.

The price of a kilogram of kimia date packets, which are imported from Saudi Arabia, starts at Rs 300. Some varieties come from countries such as Oman and are bigger in size. The ones available within the country are also found, which are smaller in size.

Ramzan started on August 2 and will continue till the end of this month.