Muslims gear up to welcome the holy month of Ramadan

HYDERABAD: Even as Muslims gear up to welcome the holy month of Ramadan, mosques across the city have been spruced up. The long pending works at Mecca Masjid are now completed.

In keeping with the dawn of the season, many top hotels have started serving haleem while traders in the Old City have brought merchandise from across India.

This will be the first time in recent years, the musallis (devout) of Mecca Masjid will be able to utilise the entire space as works which were started a few years back were completed.

“Some remaining work outside of the prayer space is in its last stages and will be completed shortly. Similar to old times, rozedars can have iftar as all types of arrangements are being made,” A.K. Khan, government advisor (minority affairs) told Deccan Chronicle.

On Monday, following a high-level review meeting which was chaired by minister Koppula Eshwar in the presence of ministers Mohammed Mahmood Ali and Ch. Malla Reddy, instructions were given to officials from GHMC, HMWSSB, Transco, police and other departments to ensure proper arrangements for the entire month. They were asked to improve the condition of roads close to mosques, concentrate on hygiene and unhindered water and power supply. MIM legislators Jaffer Hussain Meraj, Ahmed Balala, Pasha Quadri, Mumtaz Khan and MLC Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri were present.

Despite the hailstorm and unseasonal rains, fruit traders in Batasingaram market are optimistic about the supply of produce all throughout the month. The demand generally goes up by 50% during the month. “We are hopeful of an abundant supply of fruits. And hopefully, the change in weather conditions will have little impact,” said Md. Tajuddin, president of the fruit market association.

Meanwhile, haleem sellers have begun selling the special dish in some of the upmarket places. Hotels including Sarvi, Peshawar and Cafe 555 have pitched in with pre-Ramzan servings.

Allowing all Muslim government employees to leave an hour early during the holy month, the state government also passed a circular stating they could leave at 4 pm during the holy month of Ramzan from March 23 to April 23,” said a circular from the chief secretary.