Ramazan in Delhi: The Sehri Wallahs of Old Delhi

NEW DELHI: "Bhai Nasim sahib, hoshiyaar!" bellows Mohammad Rais, as he hurries from one house to another on Churiwalan lane, frequently banging his thick staff on the doors. Every lane used to have someone to arouse the people from sleep before dawn during Ramzan, but there are only a few now. Rais is one of them. In his 50s, Rais has carried out this work for over two decades now.

"I began because the imam sahib of Moulana Yusuf mosque asked me to help people during Ramzan," says Rais. Rais knows the names of the 200 or so residents of Churiwalan. At one house, a father brings his son to the balcony and requests Rais to call out the tot’s name. "Many people like their children’s names to be called out because it makes the youngsters happy," explains Rais.

Rais knows most of the residents of the bangles sellers' lane. "I work in a bangles shop, and earn enough to feed my wife and myself," says the childless man. During Ramzan, he stays up late, ready to go out around 3am to do his round and goes to sleep only after sunrise.

A few lanes away, Nadeem assumes the duties of the Sehriwala. Nadeem, who sells dates by the day near the gate of Jama Masjid, has undertaken the work of waking people up because "my grandfather was also a Sehriwala and it is a part of our heritage".

Most people in the locality recognise the pre-dawn arouser. "We are used to hearing him shout out our names. Every Ramzan, most of us wake up due to his calls," testifies a resident.

Both the Sehriwalas work for free, though theirs is not an easy responsibility, urged on only by the realisation that they are carrying out a noble task in the holy month. "At times, people give me something as a token gift, but other than that, there is no profit in this work," says Nadeem. Rais reiterates this sentiment. "I do this work for the greatest reward there can be — God’s blessing," he says, eager to sprint away and complete his rounds before Sehri time ends.