Ramzaan Bazaar at Rander started in 1938. And since then it happens in the same alley, near the Chunarwad Masjid. The way to the mela was relatively simple from what we had imagined… you just need to take the straight New Rander Road and it will take you directly to this venue
Ramzaan is consider very auspicious amongst our Muslim brethrens, and the evening meal that they have, to break their holy fast of Ramzan is called the Iftar meal, and Ramzan is probably Surti’s favourite month, as the large iftar market doesn’t only help Muslims to break their fasts, but it simultaneously breaks all the religious and cultural barriers between all the communities. Hindu’s may not be fasting during Ramzan but they are equally excited about the amazing delicacies being served in the Iftar fair because, coincidentally Ramzan comes just before Hindu’s auspicious month “Shravan”, (during which eating non-vegetarian food is prohibited), and if you ask any true Surti that “Where can we have the best Iftar cuisines?”, then he’ll reply in a blink of an eye “Rander!”.
RANDER RAMZAN FOOD BAZAR one of the most densely populated Muslim locality inside our Surat city, doesn’t simply remain a residential area during this time of the year. It becomes the one shop destination for all the food lovers around the town.
The small secluded street situated between mosques and old houses reanimates at the stroke of midnight, the usual shabby and gloomy streets have a new light shining over it, and the place looks pretty like a well-dressed bride on the day of her wedding. The quiets roads re-animate with the sound of the footsteps, of the visitors, and while walking through these land-mark one can almost smell the aroma of far away from the place that the food is actually been prepared, the smell, the visuals and the sounds becomes glimpses of the sweet memory and is forever stored in our hearts, repeating these words over and over again “Maybe, we aren’t that different after all!”
ALL PHOTOS ARE NOT TAKEN BY ME.