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The Legendary Haleem of Hyderabad by Akriti Anshu Kujur
Since the day I read, ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ by Sarojini Naidu, I was charmed by the old city of Hyderabad. In her poem, she vividly speaks of different wares, flowers, fruits , spices and ornaments that one would come across before Partition. The urge to see the bazaar and stroll around it was profound. After almost a decade, this long-forgotten desire reached its fruition. The historic city of Hyderabad, now in Telangana, India, welcomed me with open arms.
A lot has changed about the bazaar since the composition of the poem in 1912. Unfortunately, I could not experience all that was described in the poem. Nevertheless, the charming city with its iconic Charminar and the bazaar around it gave me a glimpse of that bygone golden era.
I happened to visit the city during Ramadan where the holy month is intertwined with Haleem, a festive dish and traditionally an integral part of an Iftari (a meal eaten after breaking the fast or roza). However, in present times, Haleem has started to appear as an exquisite delicacy offered at weddings and other festivities as well.