With holy months of Ramzan and Shravan being observed at the same time, food vendors are worried of dipping sales in the coming month as most city-folk are observing fasts in reverence of their God. In fact, fasting rituals have already started taking their toll on the business and it’s increasing with each passing night. Astoundingly, the drop in business is as big as 70%.
The impact is for everybody to see. Manekchowk, which otherwise is ever-bustling till late into nights, has started wearing a deserted look much earlier in the day. The much-in-favour and delicious cheese pulao, chocolate sandwiches, pav bhaji, pizzas and Chinese food stuffs are finding no takers.
“Thanks to the fasting season, my business has plummeted by 70%,” said Imtiaz Shaikh, owner of a pizza and sandwich food stall at Manekchowk.
“City-folk are eating only once a day, and that too at home. They aren’t eating out as they normally do during rest of the year,” he added. “Popular varieties of sandwiches and pizzas have taken a backseat with only faraali variants in demand.”
The pav bhaji vendor next to Shaikh’s sandwich stall voices similar concerns. His business has nosedived by about 50%.
While Manekchowk remains lukewarm, Raipur food bazaar is no different either. Though it is a small market with few stalls and lesser tables, it draws crowds with its Bhajiya House, pav bhaji and Chinese dishes but that was before Shravan and Ramzan being observed together. Even these popular stalls are witnessing a slack period with hardly a few customers to cater to.
As per Bharat Modi, who owns a pav bhaji stall in Raipur, “My business has been affected to a great extent this time. If calculated, business is down by about 50% on a daily basis and about 70% on Mondays (Shravan Somvaar),” he said. Even his home deliveries have taken a hit.
