After distributing 'prasadam' (temple offerings) through Speed Post, the postal department will deliver haleem, a Hyderabadi delicacy, that is especially popular during Ramadan.

Selected post offices are gearing up to deliver the Hyderabadi delicacy cooked by Pista House of Shalibanda.

Initially, as many as 20 post offices have been selected for delivery and another 20 will be added later depending on the response. The chief postmaster-general said the department was just trying to serve the people during the holy month of Ramadan beginning next month.

It will take orders in advance from October 10 at the selected post offices and Pista House will cook the required Haleem and make deliveries every evening during Ramadan.

He said the parcels will contain "fresh Haleem packed in plastic containers, properly sealed and specifications like weight, cost and validity printed on each pack." The validity will not be for more than for a day after the Haleem is prepared.

The postmaster-general said Pista House would take steps to ensure quality and test samples before despatching the packs to the post offices. Pista House owner Muhammad Abdul Majeed said precaution would be taken to maintain the same quality it had for the last several years.

While bookings began from October 10, the Haleem will be made available at the identified post offices from November 6 to December 5 between 4.30pm to 8pm.

The department and Pista House fixed prices at Rs50 for 300 grams, Rs85 for 600 grams, Rs110 for 900 grams, Rs140 for 1,200 grams and Rs165 for 1,500 grams.

Pista's Majeed said he expected to sell five tonnes every day. The department said it may also distribute Hyderabadi biryani through post offices if it succeeded in promoting haleem.

Earlier the department distributed prasadam of three major temples – Kanakadurga at Vijayawada, Bhadrachalam and Vemulavada and earned a revenue of over Rs10 million last year.