NEW DELHI: Every evening during Ramzan, as the sun starts to dip below the horizon and the call to prayer echoes in the air, a unique scene unfolds at Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid. Amid the bustle of people gathering to break their fast, one person stands out.

On Sunday, Neha Bharti, a 27-year-old Hindu woman, arrived at Jama Masjid dressed in a pink outfit with a yellow dupatta draped over her head, her warm smile lighting up her face. For the past three years, she has been preparing and distributing iftar meals to people of all faiths. As she arrived, the air was filled with the inviting aroma of freshly prepared snacks.
From aloo ki chaat and mohabbat ka sherbet to Rooh Afza and Frooti, each day she brings a different assortment of treats.
Around 6.36pm, when the Maghrib azaan fills the air, a crowd begins to gather around Bharti. She starts preparing the iftar, opening large boxes and meticulously mixing ingredients she has brought from home in separate containers.

She is joined by her friend, Ramsha Noor, and her sister-in-law, Ranita. They assist her with the preparations that are distributed among 250-300 people daily. Children nearby call out “Didi!” while asking for a Frooti pack.
“If you visit my house during the day, you’ll find my mother cooking one dish, my father preparing another, and my brothers all pitching in as well,” Bharti says. “It’s so much food that it takes a lot of time to make, and everyone helps.”
Bharti began her iftar initiative at Jama Masjid three years ago. She says that everyone who came to her knew she was not Muslim. “In the first year, I came here and distributed iftar on four Fridays,” she says. “The initial reception was a mix — some were shocked, others were genuinely happy and welcoming. But overall, it was a great experience, and since then, I’ve made it a point to come here every day during Ramzan.”

A resident of Old Delhi, Bharti says that her parents encouraged her to spread the message of inclusivity. Growing up in a neighbourhood where people from various castes and religions coexisted, Bharti was never taught to discriminate. Her father works in the construction sector, while her mother is a homemaker. She has two older brothers.
“During the farmers’ protest, my parents would tell me to cook something for the protesters on the Burari ground,” she says. “One day, we made 300 bread pakoras at home and took them there. After that, my parents suggested that I continue this during Ramzan.”
A graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce with a master’s degree from the Faculty of Arts, Bharti is preparing for her PhD. Her passion for helping others began years ago during her college days. “There were kids who wanted to study but lacked the resources,” she recalls. “So, we started providing them with books and supplies.”
Her dedication to helping others led to the creation of her NGO, Raah, a few years ago. “I used to collect donated clothes, get them washed or drycleaned, and distribute them to those in need,” she said. “I started sharing videos on social media to inspire others.
One day, someone from Dubai asked me for my QR code to contribute. That’s when I realised there are many people out there who want to do good.”
Feroze, a resident of Ballimaran, said she one day “saw a girl distributing food, and I was truly surprised to learn that she was a Hindu. People like her are exactly what we need.”
Another visitor, Afreen, said: “She hands out food packets with a big smile, and we eagerly wait for her to become a part of our iftar.”