Ehsan Fazili/ Srinagar

Although palm dates hold significance in the lives of Kashmiri Muslims for all auspicious and religious occasions, during the holy month of Ramzan, its consumption  - to break the dawn-to-dusk fast - breaks all records.

In fact, Muslims all over the world prefer to break the day-long fast with dates, and if these are not available, sips of water are taken instead.

The consumption of dates in the valley has been increased during the past five decades, especially during the past couple of years.

As Kashmiri Muslims use dry or fresh dates for celebrations, commemorations, or even mourning throughout the year, the demand for fresh dates during Ramzan increased 20-fold.

Ilyas Beigh of Dastgeeri Dry Fruits, wholesale and retail dealers at Jehangir Chowk, Srinagar, told Awaz-The Voice that the demand for dates increases from ocer 100 kg to 2000 kg during Ramzan. The bulk of quality dates are directly imported from Saudi Arabia.

People praying at Dastgeer Sahib shrine in downtown Srinagar during Ramzan

Beigh says the increase has been significant during the past few years.

In addition to 10 wholesale dealers of dates in Srinagar, many retailers do a brisk business of dates in the valley. Most of the wholesale dealers like Beigh buy the stocks directly from Saudi Arabia, though Egypt is the world’s largest producer of the product.

Palm Dates are also grown in Algeria, Iran, Pakistan, and Sudan, while in India the fruit is produced in Rajasthan and the Kutch area of Gujarat. 

Varieties like Ajwa from Saudi Arabia, Deglet Noor (Queen of Dates) from Tunisia, Edjool, Safawi, Sukkari, Dayri, and Khudri are popular in Kashmir.

However, people have a preference for Ajwa and it costs around Rs 2000 per kg. Dates are generally priced between Rs 200 to Rs 2000 per kg.

The date palm, known for its sweetness and nutritional value, coming from an area that “gave birth to three major religions of the world” (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) have passed on to us through thousands of years. Its use is significant and a sunnah (Practices of Prophet Muhammad) in the Islamic world, especially during Ramzan.

A Palm Date shop in Lal Chowk, Srinagar

Its different varieties, mostly fresh, are decorated in the shops well in advance of the holy fasting month of Ramzan in Kashmir, gives Markets a festive look.

These also hold an important position at the time of Nikah ceremonies in the Muslim families, in which special varieties are distributed marking the marriage of Muslim couples. These are being distributed at the time of Nikah and also distributed among relatives as token gift.

Dates are also distributed on other occasions like the condolence gatherings instead of tea or meals that take place during the fasting month.

Dry or fresh dates have always occupied its space in the Muslim homes of Kashmir. A handful of dates with a vial of Aab-e-Zam Zam (Holy Water) has been a traditional gift from Haj pilgrims for all the relatives, friends, or visitors to Haj pilgrims on their return home after performing the annual Haj pilgrimage, a tabarruk (consecrated gift) from the holy land.

As the holy month sets in, the street scene changes altogether on the roads and streets in Srinagar as well as in the suburban and rural areas. There are slow movements in the morning hours, which pick up during the day and become faster during the afternoon hours till it reaches dusk, time to break the day-long fast.

Most prefer to reach home well before “Iftaar”, after a day’s work following a pre-dawn “Sehri” meal marking the day of holy fasting. Volunteers with the “Iftaari” the plate of eatables (packets) to break the fast appear on street corners, road intersections, marketplaces, bus stops, outside hospitals, and mosques to offer to passersby.

With the “Azaan”, call for “Maghrib” (evening prayers) that follow Iftaari the scene changes as most of the people offer the namaaz before the dinner and “Taraweeh” prayers marking the end of the day’s fast.

There is hardly any person on the road, who does not get his share of “Iftaari” on time in case he fails to reach home well in advance”, observed Ghulam Hassan who usually is on his way back home in Budgam from his workplace in Lal Chowk, Srinagar. He comes across a couple of spots where volunteers offer iftaari comprising dates with water bottles or juice and bananas while on way back every day and he need not necessarily carry his packet to break his fast on the way.

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Young volunteers, some of whom represent an NGO, can be seen offering food packets for Iftaari to attendants of patients at different hospitals. They also provide pre-dawn Sehri meals to them.