Exotic dates flood Valley markets this Ramzan

Rifat Mohidin

Srinagar, June 28

With dates the most sought after fruit during Ramzan for breaking the fast, the Valley markets are flooded with different varieties of dates from Middle East.

For the past many years in Kashmir, there has been a surge in the demand of exotic varieties of dates imported from Middle Eastern countries like Iran, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, besides North African countries such as Algeria and Tunisia.

“People in Kashmir prefer dates from Middle East countries. They are expensive, but people buy them due to their religious importance as they are best for breaking the fast,” said a shopkeeper from Maharaj Bazaar, the old market in Srinagar.

The most sought after variety of date is Ajwa which is highly revered and nutritional date. This variety arrives in Valley from Saudi Arabia. Ajwa dates are the favourite among devotees as it is said that the Prophet in the seveth century used to break his fast with Ajwa dates. They are also one of the most expensive dates priced at Rs 2,000 per kg.

“Ajwa dates are of superior quality and healthy to be eaten in Ramzan. Despite being expensive they have high demand in the month of Ramzan,” another distributor of dates said.

The business of dates goes up in the month of Ramzan as the shopkeepers in city markets stock up the products in advance. The other types of dates which are imported to the Valley are Safwy from Dubai and Mabroom, Majdool, Naboot Saif dates, Helwah dates, Khudry dates, Ambr and Shurwa from Pakistan. “The price of dates starts from Rs 200 per kg and it goes up to Rs 2,000,” the trader added.

Apart from the religious significance of dates many people prefer to eat them during dawn and dusk as they come with many health benefits.

“Among many health benefits, dates have high level of natural sugar and they are also easy to digest. They also protect a fasting person from having constipation and alkaline salts in dates adjust the acidity level of blood,” said a Srinagar-based dietician, Rukaiya Ali.