LPG worry makes Ramzan a tougher month this season

Kolkata: The uncertainty over LPG cylinder supplies and a Rs 60 increase in prices, triggered by fuel disruptions, are reshaping the Ramzan routine in Kolkata. Many families are cutting back on traditional iftar spreads, simplifying suhur preparations, and planning meals more cautiously.

In several households, the traditional dishes are giving way to what many residents describe as an "LPG saving mode". Families are reducing the number of cooked items for iftar, the evening meal to break the fast, and suhur, the pre-dawn meal eaten before the day's fast begins. Many are now prioritising the preparation of dinner and suhur over elaborate iftar platters, while some are relying more on fruits and readymade items that need little cooking.




"We are mostly relying on fruits for iftar in the evening. We also have to cook dinner, and that becomes a priority during Ramzan. For iftar, we reduced the number of fritters and other items that require cooking. We are focusing on preparing the main course for the entire family," said Bilkes Perveen, an entrepreneur.

For many Muslim families, iftar traditionally includes a range of dishes meant to replenish the body after a day of fasting. This year, however, the uncertainty over cylinder availability is forcing prioritisation, with households reserving fuel for staple meals.

The Ahmed family in Beckbagan started outsourcing some items usually prepared at home. "We are no longer making dishes like haleem, dahi vadas, samosas and fritters at home. We are buying them instead, so that our resources can be used judiciously to prepare dinner and suhur," said Yusra Ahmed, a homemaker.

"I was not able to book the next refill, which is why I am using the current cylinder carefully. We also started using electrical appliances and the microwave extensively to conserve LPG," said Saba Khan, a resident of CIT Road.

The shift is also being felt in food markets and among small eateries that usually see brisk Ramzan business. Many shop owners reduced the items. Others cut down on quantity due to uncertainty over LPG supply. On Zakaria Street, one of Kolkata's best-known Ramzan food hubs, restaurateurs say the supply uncertainty has cast a shadow over what is typically one of the busiest periods of the year. "We cut down production by almost 20%. We do have some reserve fuel, but it may not last long," said Samiullah Khan, owner of an eatery on Zakaria Street.