Ratna Chotrani

Bakeries in an around the twin cities of Hyderabad go alive during Muharram , the first month of the Islamic calendar, to bake delicacy –Roat – that has come to become part of the culinary traditions with the month.

Hyderabad’s very own Karachi Bakery, the makers of, probably, the best known brand of biscuits in India Fruit biscuits,  is one such destination where people queue up for this Muharram delicacy .

According to Rajesh Ramnani, scion of Karachi bakery’s founder, history has it that Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Seventh Nizam had offered the Roat at Naal-E- Mubarak Alam at Pathergatti to an Alam during Muharram  for the well being of his grandson.

Since then many Shia Muslims follow this practice of distributing roat during this particular month as a way of praying for the well being of their family. The demand for Dum Ka Roat is the highest round the tenth day of the month that marks Youm-e-Ashoora.

On this day the traditional Bibi-ka-Alam procession is taken out on a caparisoned elephant from Bibi-ka-Alawa in Dabeerpura to Chaderghat.

Flavourful Dum Ke Roat has a special taste, with a crunchy crust and soft insides. Made with freshly made dough, sublime pure ghee, sugar, dry fruits, saffron, cardamom and raisins this cookie was originally baked in wood fire oven.

Karachi Bakery continues this tradition even till date as it used a brick or clay oven that gives the Roat a distinct flavour.

With Muharram being just around, one can find customers waiting patiently in queues from morning at their various outlets especially in Nampally for their share of Dum Ke Roat as the bakery is known to use high quality ingredients.

This confection has the all goodness in them, including exotic saffron, nuts, and glorious ghee.  

But getting all these in the right proportion is the most important aspect says Rajesh Ramnani. The duration of baking is what lends that brownish look while ensuring its crunch and softness within at the same time .

This bakery which spells indulgence for gourmands in Hyderabad across the globe has its customers spoilt for choice given the assortment of cookies and biscuits neatly decked upon the wooden shelves.

This Bakery pushes the envelope with its Hyderabadi delicacies like the Osmani Biscuit and Dum Ke Roat .

Made with the finest ingredients including pure ghee, the sweet treat is preservative free and attractively packaged . There are customers who want to gift away it to their families and friends, go for the gift boxes.

Over the years Dum ke roat has become a delicacy during Muharram. Some families prefer to make them at home but a majority buys them from popular bakeries such as Karachi.