NEW DELHI: Every afternoon during Ramadan, Neha Bharati makes sure to arrive at the Jama Masjid complex around Maghrib prayer time to bring snacks for her Muslim neighbors and others gathered to break their fast in Old Delhi.
This is the third year that Bharati, a 27-year-old Hindu woman living in the historic heart of India’s capital, has been serving iftar at the iconic 17th-century mosque built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan.
She has been encouraged by her parents who saw the need to act amid what they observed as growing religious tensions since India’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014.
“I felt some change needed to be brought about. Then my parents and family suggested that we start ... We would start serving iftar at the main Jama Masjid,” Bharati told Arab News, as she prepared to distribute hundreds of savory pastry snacks among the people coming out of the mosque.
“I wanted this message to reach the people that interfaith harmony is still alive ... There are many people who have become symbols of Hindu-Muslim unity. They are doing good work.”
Bharati is supported in her efforts by both Muslims and Hindus.
“No one is isolated, our blood is the same. We are all working together unitedly. And I am working with this spirit,” she said.
“Some Hindus also donate and ask me to serve iftar at Jama Masjid ... When we all break the fast together. It really feels nice. I want this camaraderie to be alive, that’s why we come here.”
Ramsha Noor, a homemaker, has been helping Bharati in iftar preparations since the very beginning and has observed a growing community involvement.
“This is also a message for girls to come out of homes, help people,” she said.
“Many people feel the change. Now we have a team of five girls. Earlier we were only two.”
India’s Muslim community is the world’s third largest, constituting about 15 percent of its 1.5 billion population.
Anas Ahmad, who has been joining Bharati since she started organizing iftars, said it felt special to break the fast with her and her friends.
“We come here to meet her from far away and I also help her sometimes,” he said.
“When we go to her to take the iftar we get a different kind of feeling. She is doing great work of strengthening brotherhood.”
Mohammad Afroz and Zaid Qureshi, who also broke their fast at Jama Masjid, were full of appreciation for Bharati’s presence and contribution.
“She is spreading love and promoting Hindu-Muslim unity ... this is a great thing,” Qureshi said.
“She will be blessed,” Afroz added. “We should learn from this ... This helps in honing brotherhood and harmony. This helps in spreading camaraderie and love.”
