From reciting azaan in mosques in childhood to taking a break from TV for business, Aly Goni gets candid about how Ramzan is celebrated in Kashmir differently from other states

Aly Goni recently had a candid podcast with Sana Khan and Mufti Anas. The actor got candid about his break from TV and his focus on his business, he even shared how his childhood was quite holy and how Ramzan celebrations in Kashmir is completely different from Mumbai and other states.

Have been focusing on my business for sometime. A year ago, I began my business, and after receiving a good response, I got more focused on it. Now, I am focused on expanding it and going international. With TV shows, I do what I get offered and if I like. The main reason why I started my business was kisika mauhtaj nahi banna pad raha hai. My parents have also been very supportive, adding I am doing a paak and saaf business as I deal with dry fruits and honey. And I have another clothing brand as well.

Kashmir is the Jannat, and it is the best. Everything is so beautiful, I was born there, too. I am extremely attached to Kashmir, I tell my parents that we should slowly prepare for going back to Kashmir. we had shifted to Jammu when I was really young. Earlier, we used to stay in Badarwah. I still go to my Nani's place in Kashmir, and even those two days feel like sukoon, and I feel recharged. We call it 'Moj Kashir' for us its your mother.

There is a lot of difference between spending Ramzan in Kashmir and here. Ghar ke Ramzan ka koi mukabla in nahi hai. My mom makes scrumptious meals and the vibe that we have there in Ramzan is completely different. Here I am alone, and my cook and I celebrating it. Here people have a different way of celebrating it. Raat ko Mohammed Ali Road chale jayenge. But the way I celebrated it in childhood with my family is incomparable.

I cannot explain how Ramazan is spent in Kashmir, it feels like we are celebrating Eid with every Iftaar. Every day, there will be a different dastarkhan for Iftiyari; we do have pakoras in both Jammu and Kashmir. In sehri, Namkin chai is important with paratha, and we also had a meat dish there. Here, it is more like jo subah mil gaya woh kha lo. The luxurious life has come in the past 5-6 years; before that, even eggs and bread would suffice as sehri as there was no help and I had to manage on my own.

Now, I go towards the end to Jammu and spend my Ramzan with them. Then, I celebrated Eid at home and returned to Mumbai. During Ramzan, I go to Umrah and spend at least a week there. I perform 2 Umrahs in one day and then shift to Madina. Then, I stayed there for a week, and my routine there was to stay at the hotel and go to Madina all day.

As a kid, I used to recite Azaans at the mosque. I was 11 when I started reciting Azaan. I would enjoy it so much that I would go and start reciting the Azaan on the mic before the Imaam sahab would come. I still recall that I had gone to my nani's home in Kashmir, and I entered the masjid and started reciting azaan for the namaz. Even Imaam sahab was baffled that a kid was reciting on the mic. My uncle owned that Masjid, and he saw me there.