Deccan Herald » Metro Life - Thurs » Detailed Story

Fashion, food and fads

Michael Patrao

There is a little bit of everything here. During the day, it is a crowded cheek-by-jowl commercial centre. At night, it turns into a food street. Being located close to Commercial Street, it is a poor cousin of the famous street.

The spill-over of Commercial street is found on Ibrahim Sahib Street by way of shops for groceries, provisions, stationery, jewellery, readymade garments, hardware, electrical, shoes, dress, dress materials, tailoring and fancy items.

Street fashion

The street appears to assimilate new trends and fashions. For instance there is Rajasthani Mehendi art, mehendi (henna) materials and classes. Bridal mehendi, bridal treatment, make-up, hairstyle and dressings. In contrast there is also a commercial tattoo artist located on this street.

Ibrahim Street was not always like this. Until the 1970s, it was largely a residential area. The descendants of Ibrahim Sahib, after whom the road is named still carry on the oil trade near the Jumma Masjid, the oldest mosque in the Cantonment area, on the other end of the street. The black marble pillars and the ornate embellishments of the mosque are said to have come from the razed palace of Tippu Sultan in Srirangapatna.

Food galore

When it comes to street food, there are very few places which can match Ibrahim Sahib Street. The street runs parallel to Commercial Street and there is a food festival here every day of the year. The street comes to life at around 4 pm and the aroma of food wafts through the air. The street remains active till 11 pm.

The food, in both kiosks, carts and hole-in-the wall joints, ranges from Chinese fried rice, noodles and gobi manchurian to dosa, idlis, chaats, sweets and slices of fruits. The prices are far less than what you would pay in a restaurant.

Ibrahim Street’s reputation as a food street began a couple of decades ago. One day things took a slow but definite turn. Ram Lulla set up the first chaat shop.

In 1973, Maheshwari Chaats and Sweets was established which was known for their chaats such as masala puri, dahi puri and papadi chaat.

Today we have Rawal Jalebi, Sagar Chaats and Sweets and Madhu Chinese Fast Food to name a few. Sree Ganesha Fruit Juice Centre, a homegrown chain of juice joints, has also opened shop here.

Soft idlis are served here with two kinds of chutney. Dosas, shavige bhath and udin vadai and for sheer variety, there is the long paper masala dosa. Many of the vendors are natives from various parts of Tamil Nadu. Local vendors also sell sliced and diced mixed fruits, pineapple slices, jackfruit and fried peanuts.

Old Charm

Some old building are still found on this road such as the T R Vysya Choultry and Hostel and Suryakantha Nivasa dating back to 1938. At the beginning of the road on Kamaraj Road side, there is Eastern Lodge, an ornate building and one of the earliest lodges in the City.

The character of the street is slowly changing. Trendy new concrete buildings are coming up such as the Pramod Arcade Shopping Complex.

It is as if it is trying to imitate its rich cousin – the Commercial Street.