Kupwara, Mar 3: A small bakery tucked away in Ludhiana has become the talk of the town, drawing crowds who line up daily to get a taste of authentic Kashmiri bread known as ‘Kandur Tchot’.
The enticing aromas of the oval-shaped loaves being baked in the traditional tandoor oven at the Kashmir Bakery have made it a destination for food lovers from across the city. The bakery’s signature product – the crunchy and flaky ‘Kandur Tchot’ – has earned a devoted following, introducing many Punjabis to the rich bread culture of Kashmir.
With locals making the trip just to get their ‘Kandur Tchot’ fix, the humble bakery has bridged cultural divides and showcased Kashmir’s culinary traditions beyond its borders.
Mohammad Subhan Lone a resident of Gazeryal Kupwara who has been running a restaurant at Bhalla market, Mochpura Bazar, Ludhiana for the last several years has taken the initiative and established the bakeshop to make people in Ludhiana familiar with the Kashmiri bread.
“I was intending to embark on this journey in the autumn but since two hundred Kashmiri families are residing in Ludhiana who face problems about bread. During the month of Ramdan, the problems extend to a large extent so to lessen their problem, I have started the shop before Ramdan,” Lone while talking to Greater Kashmir stated.
“The response from people has been magnificent. Not only Kashmiris but locals also love to cherish Kashmiri bread including Girda, Kulcha and other kinds. They also love to taste Kashmiri namkeen tea” Mohammad Subhan added.
“Some thirty years back I would come here during winters to sell Kashmiri shawls and other attires and with the time I set up a restaurant here where I serve Kashmiri wazwan to people,” Lone said.
Since Kashmiri bread symbolises Kashmiryat and happens to be an important part of Kashmiri culture. “I want to make people familiar with Kashmiri bread even in this part of the world.”