Ramadan Tradition Continues in Hyderabad: Sehri Wake-Up Call Adapts to Modern Technology

Hyderabad: As the holy month of Ramadan begins, an age-old tradition in Hyderabad continues to echo through the streets — the custom of Sehri Khawans waking people for Sehri. While the purpose remains the same, the method has evolved with time. Modern technology and changing lifestyles have made the task easier for those who carry forward this cherished Ramadan practice.

In earlier days, people were awakened for Sehri in Hyderabad by the rhythmic sound of drums and traditional instruments. Today, however, many Sehri callers use microphones, amplifiers, and auto-rickshaws to alert residents across neighborhoods, blending tradition with modern tools.

This unique Ramadan custom continues to add charm and spiritual energy to the city, even as technology changes the way it is performed.

The Tradition of Sehri Wake-Up Calls in Hyderabad

For decades, Sehri Khawans have walked through the lanes of Hyderabad before dawn, waking residents so they can eat Sehri (pre-dawn meal) before beginning the day’s fast.

Key features of this tradition include:

• Calling out to residents in the early hours of Ramadan
• Moving through lanes and neighborhoods before Fajr
• Performing the act voluntarily for spiritual reward
• Keeping the Ramadan atmosphere alive in the city

Earlier, these wake-up calls were made using drums, metal plates, and traditional percussion instruments. The sound would travel through the narrow streets of Hyderabad, alerting families that the time for Sehri had arrived.

Modern Technology Changes the Way Sehri Is Announced

With changing times, the method of waking people for Sehri has also changed.

Today, in several areas of Hyderabad:

• Amplifiers and microphones are used
• Some individuals travel on auto-rickshaws with loudspeakers
• The call for Sehri is broadcast across multiple streets at once

This shift has made the task easier and faster, especially in densely populated neighborhoods.

Despite these technological changes, the spirit of the tradition remains intact.

Decades of Dedication by Sehri Khawans

Several individuals in Hyderabad have been performing this service for three to four decades.

Two well-known Sehri callers, Abdul Wahid and Mohammed Sheikh Haji Pasha, said they have been waking people for Sehri for nearly 30 to 40 years.

Sheikh Haji Pasha shared that he has been performing this duty for around 25 years.

According to him:

• The work brings inner peace and satisfaction
• It is performed with the intention of earning spiritual reward
• The tradition must continue even in the modern era

He explained that although many people now rely on mobile phone alarms, the traditional practice of going through streets and calling people for Sehri should not disappear.

“We act like a living alarm for the community,” he said.

Mobile Phones and Changing Lifestyles

With smartphones becoming common, many families now set alarms on their mobile phones to wake up for Sehri.

However, Sehri Khawans believe their role still matters because:

• Some people sleep through alarms
• Their calls help create the Ramadan atmosphere
• The tradition connects communities and neighborhoods

Even today, the sound of Sehri calls moving through the streets remains a special part of Ramadan nights in Hyderabad.

Respect and Support from the Community

Local residents continue to show respect and appreciation for Sehri Khawans.

Many people offer them:

• Cash donations
• Clothes
• Household items

These gifts are often given during the last days of Ramadan, especially around Eid-ul-Fitr.

Although the number of people performing this service is gradually decreasing every year, those who continue say that the spiritual satisfaction is more valuable than any reward.

One Sehri caller said that waking people for Sehri brings deep inner happiness, even though the work requires dedication and long nights.

A Unique Ramadan Tradition of Hyderabad

The tradition of Sehri wake-up calls in Hyderabad during Ramadan remains a beautiful cultural and spiritual practice.

Even as technology evolves, the city continues to witness dedicated individuals walking through streets before dawn, ensuring that people do not miss their Sehri.

As Ramadan progresses, the echoes of these calls will continue to remind residents of the shared spirit, faith, and community bonding that defines the holy month in Hyderabad.

The Sehri wake-up tradition in Hyderabad during Ramadan proves that while methods may change with modern technology, the purpose remains the same — serving the community and preserving a cherished cultural practice. As fewer people continue this role each year, many residents hope that this unique Ramadan tradition will never fade from the city’s streets.

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