Ehsan Fazili/ Srinagar

When a Hindu family from Chennai visiting Kashmir stopped over at the food outlet in Jehangir Chowk here last week, it was nearing Iftaar time. The staff members were busy preparing to serve over a hundred people breaking the day’s fast.

The family inquired about the festive atmosphere at the restaurant. After knowing the reason, the family offered to wait till the fasting people were served.They waited patiently for half an hour and had food only when all those waiting to break their fast were served and people around began to break their fast.

“This is not a solo affair; such memorable incidents when people show patience and respect for religions is common, especially during the month of Ramazan”, Javed Parsa owner of the Parsas’ food outlet told Awaz-The Voice.

His outlet offers free “Iftaari” throughout Ramzan, the month of dawn to dusk fasting for Muslims. While over a hundred people are served free “Iftaari,” the restaurant also arranges for a place where they can offer “Maghrib namaz” in the aisle in front of the outlet.

People breaking their fast at Parsa's in Srinagar

“It has become a feature of our outlet for more than a decade now”, said Javed Parsa, claiming that only his outlets were serving free “Iftaari” throughout the Ramzan, and also attracting many non-Muslims.

What makes the food outlet, Parsas popular not only among Muslims but also others like Hindus and Sikhs, is mainly its location near Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) across river Jhelum near central Lal Chowk, is the footfall of all kinds of people.

“They include senior officials, including VIPs from the nearby Civil Secretariat and other Government offices, employees of different banks in the shopping mall and nearby business establishments, shopkeepers, taxi drivers, labourers, and security guards working around from different parts of the valley and elsewhere”, Javed Parsa said.

It looks beautiful when people far away from their homes, comprising about 90 percent of the gathering, relish the occasion every day, he said.

Unlike most other food outlets, it remains open for its customers throughout the day, serving food to non-Muslim employees and workers in the area. He said some deliveries are also made during the day.

People offer namaz at Parsa's Foot outlet in Srinagar

While more than a hundred people are served daily Iftaari. At times the outlet served about 5000 free meals to fasting people in the month for many years.

Free Iftaari at Parsas’ is also served at different outlets along the National highway for travelers including at Banihal, Sangam, Pampore, HMT, Palhalan, and Tangmarg. These branches offer free meals to travellers going to and coming from Jammu, Pahalgam, and other areas of South Kashmir, the Gulmarg area, and North Kashmir.

“The beauty of this service is that now people have started contributing on their own at the founding center” at the Sarah City Centre (shopping mall) in Jehangir Chowk, Javed said, adding that many people offer boxes of dates, or other fresh fruits to be served in the Iftaar.

The menu for Iftaari is also unique as a blend of traditional Kashmiri items and those common in “Bihari culture”, which was introduced by migrant workers.

These include chicken and pakodas, which these workers were initially preparing for themselves only. “It started with the staff and has been combined with the traditional Kashmiri items since 2015”, Javed Parsa informed. With this the daily “Iftaari plate” served includes “Babri tresh” (Basil seed drink with water and milk) to begin with and added at least five varieties including dates, fresh fruit, chicken and pakoda, etc.

ALSO READ: Valley couple to set up printmaking Studio and Art Residency in Srinagar

In a decade, Parsas’ food chain has grown from its single founding branch in Jehangir Chowk area to 35 outlets, which include 25 in Kashmir valley and 10 others outside like in Jammu and Delhi.