This is why the role of sehriwala is important during Ramzan

Continuing the age-old practice of waking up people for 'sehri' during Ramzan, the sehriwalas go around the neighbourhoods beating drums or tin containers

Hyderabad: In an era where mobile phone alarms, alarm clocks, latest online alarm services are extensively used, the ‘zohridar’ or ‘sehriwala’ still holds authority with their age-old practice of beating a drum or tin containers to wake up the pious for ‘sehri’ (predawn meal).

The practice of waking up the devout for ‘sehri’ is considered a good deed for ages, and a particular group of people take upon themselves the onus of waking up people in the dead of the night.

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Beating the drum — a big or a small one – to wake up the devout is the traditional practice across the world. At least two hours before the sehri time ends, the sehriwala visits the neighbourhoods to wake up people to have their meal.

“I wake up at 2 am and for the next two hours move around the colonies beating the tin container. Despite the alarms and sirens, people move out of the bed only after hearing our voice and the repeated drum beats,” said Jameel, who has been doing the work for the last one decade.

Khaleel, the elder brother of Jameel, accompanies him in his work. “Both of us, together, move around the localities and perform the holy task. It gives us immense satisfaction. My father used to do it early, now both of us are carrying out the family vocation forward,” he said.

Several families, particularly the ‘sufi fakir’, are into the task. “Some use a microphone and loudspeakers to give the wakeup call while others play qawwali recordings on the music system. But people are accustomed to the drum beating and the loud clatter that reverberates during the night pulls the laziest person out from the bed,” said Khaleel.

Syed Afreedi, an IT professional from Chandrayangutta, says that since childhood, he sees the lungi kurta clad men moving around on the streets waking up people for sehri. “Without these people, the Ramzan month is incomplete. Their presence might not be felt, but if they do not turn up a single day their absence is certainly noticed. One cannot imagine Ramzan without them,” said Afreedi.

During the ending phase of the Ramzan month, families acknowledge the work of these people and donate grains, cash and clothes to them. “We get goodies round the year; during Ramzan, we get in more quantity. But the pleasure and satisfaction we get by doing the Ramzan work is inestimable,” said Jamal Miya, who wakes up people in Chandrayangutta locality.