No Haleem for this Ramzan, Hyderabad hotel associations

Hyderabad: With the month of fasting commencing during the lockdown period on April 25, the Haleem makers in Hyderabad have decided not to prepare the dish this year. The decision was a unanimously call by Haleem Makers’ Association and the association of food joints in Hyderabad.

Pista house Owner & Haleem makers association president Sri.M.A.Majeed said, “We have decided not to make as well as sell Haleem this Ramazan. We won’t be able to abide by the government order of social distancing if we want to make haleem. This is a unanimous decision by hotels from both Hyderabad and Secunderabad area."

With the lockdown extended up to May 7, uncertainty persists and none knows whether business establishments and hotels would be allowed to open after this period. Even hotels like Pista house that was toying with the idea of launching parcel service to provide haleem to its customers dropped the plan with the Telangana government's new restriction on online food delivery.

“Nearly two months of preparation is required to make haleem. And now hardly a week is left for the commencement of Ramazan. Even if we get the necessary permission from authorities it is very difficult to start the business”, said S.G. Rabbani of Shah Ghouse chain of hotels.

The same view is expressed by Aziz Zafar, President, Twin Cities Hotel Owners Association. “Getting the labour, raw material and meat under the present circumstances is very difficult. Personally I am of the view that we should skip haleem this season”, he remarked. About 4000 small and big hotels are covered by the Association.