Hindu Sindhis Uphold Four-Decade Iftar Tradition at Chennai's Walajah Mosque
At first glance, the scene appears typical of Ramadan: dozens of men wearing skull caps diligently fill colorful buckets with iftar dishes—dates, bananas, cake, rice gruel, pista milk, and juice packs—for distribution to the thousands gathered at Chennai's historic Walajah Big Mosque. However, a closer look reveals a remarkable twist: these men are not Muslims but Sindhi Hindus, originally from Pakistan, who have been serving iftar here for the past 40 years.
A Legacy of Service Rooted in Interfaith Beliefs
"We have been serving iftar here every Ramzan for the past four decades," explains Ashok Khubchandani, one of the oldest members of the group. The vegetarian food is prepared at the Sufi Dar temple in Mylapore, a place that itself symbolizes religious harmony, adorned with pictures of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Sikh gurus, and Sufi and Hindu saints. Khubchandani emphasizes that all the work is done by "sevadaris" or volunteers, driven by the principle: "Service to mankind is service to God."
This tradition was initiated by their guru, Pujniya Dada Ratanchand, a refugee who migrated to Chennai during Partition. Khubchandani, who moved to the city from Delhi 50 years ago for business, has not missed a single year of iftar service since. The funding for this initiative comes solely from the Sufi Dar Trust, established in 1980, with the group being "strictly against donations." Beyond Ramadan, they also serve food to orphanages every Sunday.
Community Effort and Inclusive Participation
Most of the volunteers are businesspeople who leave their offices each evening to personally transport and serve the food. Mohammed Asif Ali, heir-apparent to the Prince of Arcot and founder of the Walajah Mosque, notes that the attendees are primarily workers from nearby areas like Royapettah, but the invitation is open to anyone hungry. "The Nawab of Arcot had said that whatever is brought from the temple will be accepted. We feel blessed," Khubchandani adds.
As the azan sounds, the crowd begins eating, with women served in a separate section of the mosque by female volunteers from Sufi Dar. Navnit, one of the youngest members, expresses hope to continue this tradition: "Just to see the smiles on the faces of those being served makes it worthwhile."
Broader Interfaith Initiatives in Chennai
This story is part of a larger tapestry of interfaith efforts in the city. Every evening during Ramadan, the Institute of Dialogue with Religions and Cultures (IDRC), run by the Jesuits of Loyola, also offers iftar to people from all communities. Father Maria Arul Raja, former director of IDRC, explains, "The festival is about celebrating humanity, while respecting religious sentiments, about enriching the inner self and reaching out to the poor, and listening to their cries. So we invite everyone to join in, even atheists." This distribution has been ongoing for seven years.
Sufi Dars are a community of Sindhi Hindus who practice a unique blend of Hinduism and Sufism, often worshipping at shrines dedicated to Sufi saints. Their longstanding iftar service at the Walajah Mosque stands as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of communal harmony and selfless service in Chennai.
