Pre-Iftar Rush: khajoor, Pakora Stalls Buzzing Across KP

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Peshawar: The food stalls of khajoor (dates), chapli kabab, pakora, and jalebi, among other items, attracted a large number of people ahead of the first Iftar of the holy month of Ramazan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

A great rush was witnessed at food stalls, especially pakora, khajoor, chapli kabab, and jalebi stalls at all bazaars, including Qissa Khwani, Tehkal, and Hashtnagri in Peshawar.

Pakora, a spicy food item mostly prepared with onions, potatoes, and chicken, is being sold like hotcakes due to its delicious taste, cost-efficient varieties, and energy perspectives.

Like khajoor, pakora is the most popular item during Iftar parties in the provincial capital, where special shops were opened at historic Qissa Khwani, Ghanta Ghar, Firdus Market, Hasthnagri, and other areas, which started making roaring business.

Different types of pakora are being prepared, such as potato pakora, palak pakora, onion pakora, and gobhi pakora, which attract senior citizens, children, women, and youth as special iftar items.

The delicious dish is prepared from different ingredients, such as onions, eggs, potatoes, chicken, and cauliflower, after these items are dipped in Pakora-made flour.

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Riaz Khan, a retired teacher of the Education Department, stated at a food stall in Hashtnagri, said that khajoor and pakora are his favorite food items during Iftar parties, and without them, his Iftar seems incomplete.

“Personally, I prefer chicken pakora because of its flavorful batter and energy-boosting qualities,” he remarked, noting the increasing demand for onion and potato pakoras.

“The local markets are now flooded with stalls selling pakoras, jalebis, dahi bhalla, and kachaloo, and as Iftar time approaches, there’s a flurry of activity with people making hectic purchases.

Like other food items, the prices of pakoras have also surged this year, with 1 kilogram now fetching between Rs320 to Rs340, up from Rs280 last year. This significant increase warrants attention from the district administration to ensure fairness.

“A few pakoras and dates are sufficient for me as they constitute a complete meal,” Khan remarked.

Originating from the Indian subcontinent, this popular snack requires minimal preparation time and is served as a special Iftar meal, often accompanied by various chutneys or ketchup, appealing to people across all social classes.

“It’s a tradition to exchange food dishes among relatives during Iftar, which not only fosters love and warmth but also brings people closer,” Zeeshan Khan, a resident of Wapda Town Nowshera, mentioned, expressing his intention to gift his daughter 1 kilogram of pakoras and 2 kilograms of dates as a special Iftar gift.

Shopkeepers noted that making pakoras is a profitable business as it doesn’t require substantial investment, though the recent price hikes are attributed to the increased costs of ingredients.

In addition to pakoras, people thronged to fruit and Peshwari rice outlets, purchasing parcels of delicious food items for the first Iftar. jalebi, achar, and siri paye shops also reported brisk sales.

Ahead of the first Iftar, young children were seen joyfully exchanging food with their relatives and friends in Peshawar, Nowshera, and Charsadda districts, adding to the festive atmosphere.