A Bangalore neighbourhood has come together to pull the plug on its iconic Ramzan food festival, for reasons other than communal at a time when such movements are usually linked to faith or politics.

Members from all communities, including Muslims, have cited traffic snarls, health hazards and rising crimes as reasons to rally against the food festival on Mosque Road in Frazer Town. They have even managed to get an assurance from the local legislator that the festival would not happen this year.

The food festival witnesses a massive rush of people who travel from various parts of the city and neighbouring districts to try out the Ramzan delicacies on offer.

With Ramzan fasting tentatively set to begin on March 10 or 11, Frazer Town Residents’ Welfare Association turned on the heat and launched a signature campaign in continuation of the movement that was kicked off during the fag end of the fasting month last year.

The association submitted a memorandum to MLA A.C. Srinivasa, the city police and the civic body to call off the event.

“We have been assured by the MLA that the food festival won’t be allowed from this year,” the association’s vice-president, Saud Dastagir, told The Telegraph
on Wednesday.

He stressed that the action was not driven by communal interests. “All of us — Muslims, Hindus and Christians — are part of this movement as this illegal food festival has affected normal life and peace in the area.”