Telangana - Beating the heat in style, Hyderabadi way
Hyderabad's summer cuisine highlights the modest toddy palm fruit, referred to as "thati munjalu" (or ice apple in English). These cool fruits have become a lifesaver for those looking to escape the never-ending heat.
These fruits have a particular place in the hearts of old timers like Gopal. Gopal eats an ice apple and says, "They not only help us endure the sweltering weather but also replenish glucose levels."
Hyderabad's streets are filled with the sounds of summertime snacks. Intriguing items like as falooda, buttermilk, soda, lassi, watermelon slices, mint-infused beverages, and the perennially well-liked ice golas are sold by vendors in a queue. The constant heat is broken by the sudden coolness of every bite or drink.
Matkas, or clay pots, are now, very literally, in high demand. As consumers rediscover the pleasure of drinking cool water from earthen pots, these classic containers are flying off the shelves.
In the meantime, street sellers all around the city are looking for inventive ways to shelter themselves while attending to clients; they are using homemade umbrellas and inventively created shades.
The city's auto-rickshaw drivers have also embraced their coolness. Some people have modified their cars by growing grass on the top, turning them into little green havens that move. Not far behind, riders on two-wheelers are putting up shields and sunglasses to protect themselves from the blazing heat.