Baking Bonds: Tandoori Days of Bhera
In the historic town of Bhera, many mohallas once had their own communal tandoories, often managed by elderly women. These dedicated ladies would begin their day early — kneading dough, lighting the clay ovens, and preparing to bake fresh roti for the neighbourhood families.
The tandoori was far more than a place to bake roti; it was the living heart of the mohalla. It was a centre of daily life, quiet conversations, and shared community bonds. Children arrived carrying small plates of dough, women exchanged news and family updates, and the warm fragrance of freshly baked roti drifted through the narrow, intricate, winding streets of Bhera.
There was a well-known saying in Bhera: “If you want to spread news, give it at a tandoori or a barber shop.” These humble communal ovens reflected the cooperative and closely knit spirit of Bhera — a tradition that has now largely faded, yet remains deeply cherished in memory.
Postcards by Maheen Mumtaz depicting one of the traditional tandoories of Mohalla Sheikhanwala are shared here as a tribute to that era.
Zahid Mumtaz
