Food, festivity and shopping frenzy keep nights alive till 2 am

With four days left for Ramzan, Meena Bazaar has come alive with a surge of shoppers thronging the bustling stretch for festive purchases and food.

Outlets selling clothes, footwears, bangles, mehndi, attar (natural perfumes), crockery, dry fruits, dates, sweets and a variety of juices are witnessing heavy footfall. Special Ramzan delicacies such as Hyderabadi haleem, vegetarian and non-vegetarian samosas are also drawing crowds.

The bazaar, dotted with hundreds of temporary stalls and roadside vendors, offers everything from perfumes and caps to artificial jewellery, all of which are in high demand during the season. Meena Bazaar remains open from 10 am to 2 am till Mar. 19. On March 20, traders say, the market will stay open through the night.

Vehicle-free stretch

To accommodate the rush, the Sawday Road stretch from Ashoka Road to Savoy Chowk has been closed to vehicular traffic. Hundreds of temporary stalls have come up along the route, turning the area into a pedestrian-only shopping zone.

A feast for food lovers

The bazaar surroundings have also turned into a food hub, with streets lined with vendors offering a wide spread of delicacies.

From Hyderabadi haleem and kebabs to vegetarian and non-vegetarian samosas, Kashmiri faluda, dry fruit sherbet, lassi, mutton curries and biryani, there is something for everyone.

S.M. Khwaja Samosa Centre on Sawday Road, near Savoy Chowk, is a popular stop for hot mutton kheema, chicken, egg and vegetarian samosas.

Just opposite to Kantharaj Urs Park, behind Meena Bazar is S.F. Samosa Centre which is also serving piping hot samosas.

Muslim brethren, who break their fast at nearby mosques and the public, throng these shops not only to eat, but also to take the freshly made samosas home. If one visits this place at about 6 pm, one can guess the popularity of the shop.

A walk further on Sawday Road leads to a kiosk by Taj Biriyani Paradise which is offering Arabian Samosas, Kheema Roti (Rs. 150 each), sweet delicacies such as Jamoon (Rs. 30 each), Dumroot (Rs. 300 a box), Coconut Pudding (Rs. 60 a box) and other items.

Further ahead, stalls near Savoy Chowk offer haleem, kebabs and quick bites.

LPG cylinder shortage hits business

Sajif Hussain, proprietor of Taj Biriyani Paradise said that though the business is picking up, they are unable to meet the demands due to shortage in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders.

“We are unable meet the demands of customers due to non-supply of commercial LPG cylinders. I have bought two firewood stoves from Erode in Tamil Nadu. These stoves are fuelled by firewood and air is blown through an outlet by a small fan which is installed in the air outlet. A regulator is provided to the fan to control the fire and heat,” he said. 

Exotic gifts and premium products

Shoppers looking for gifts are heading to Dubai Centre, where agarwood, often referred to as ‘liquid gold’, is a key attraction this year, priced at Rs. 45,000 per kg. The fragrant resinous wood is widely used in luxury perfumes and incense.

The store also offers fragrance dispensers (oudhan), perfumes sourced from Dubai, watches, sunglasses and other gift items.

Business hit by Middle East situation

However, traders say business has been affected this year. Ansari of Dubai Centre said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted imports and exports.

“As a result, regular items such as silver and Turkish rings, dry fruits and attars sourced from Dubai are not available this year, leading to a dip in business,” he said.

Merchants Association thank authorities

Meanwhile, Meena Bazaar Merchants Association and Social Welfare Committee Secretary Afroz Pasha has thanked MLAs Tanveer Sait and K. Harishgowda, officials from various government departments, including the Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Mysuru City Corporation, for their support in organising the Ugadi and Ramzan mela, which will conclude on Mar. 20.

Sherbet and faluda…

Mughliya Cool Drinks  at the junction of Savoy Chowk is drawing large crowds for its sherbets and faluda. Established in the year 1983 by late Syed Jaffer, the shop is now looked after by his son Fairoz Pasha. Khova Special Badam Lassi (Rs. 30 a glass), Nannari Badam Sherbet (Rs. 30), Khova Special Badam Sherbet (Rs. 40) and Dry Fruit Special Sherbet (Rs. 60 a glass).