Srinagar, Mar 08 (KNO): An elderly Pherni vendor from the Aali Kadal area of Srinagar has been serving his signature sweet dish for decades, attracting customers from across Kashmir, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Nazir Ahmad, along with his two sons, Showkat and Aabid, continues the family tradition of preparing and selling Pherni at Aali Kadal Srinagar, where the stall witnesses a heavy rush, particularly before Iftari.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Nazir said his family has been in this trade for around eight decades. Initially handled by his brother, Nazir took over the business and has been making Pherni for the past 60 years. He proudly said that his customer base extends across Kashmir and that the business has provided a stable livelihood for his family.
“The key to our Pherni’s quality is its purity. We use only pure cow milk, ensuring the same standard for every customer, whether they buy Pherni worth Rs 10 or Rs 1000,” Nazir said.
He further mentioned that he has engaged his two sons in the business, given the rising unemployment rate and the scarcity of government jobs. "I want my sons to earn a decent livelihood, and this work has sustained our family for generations," he added.
Nazir said that Pherni was introduced to Kashmir by the Mughals, and the Sheikh family has been preparing it specifically for Ramadan. After the holy month, they shift their business to selling ice creams during the summer.
Notably, vloggers from across India have visited Nazir Ahmad’s shop to capture his traditional Pherni-making process. His son, Showkat Ahmad, expressed his deep attachment to the craft, saying that while learning a new skill might take him years, he has already mastered this trade under his father’s guidance.
“No work is inferior or superior, as long as it is halal. Earning a halal livelihood in this materialistic world is the biggest act of worship,” Showkat said, adding that young people should not hesitate to take up any honest work and should seize even the smallest opportunities in any field—(KNO)