Located in Mylapore area of Chennai, this temple has been connecting the Hindu and Muslim community for the last 40 years. This tradition was started by Dada Ratanchand, who was a Hindu refugee from Sindh and settled in Chennai at the time of partition. Let us tell you about this temple.
Volunteers serve
Every year, the volunteers start preparing for Iftar at 7:30 am. Food is prepared for around 1200 people every day. The delicious Iftar menu includes biryani, fried rice, various pickles, saffron milk and fruits. Then by 5:30 pm, the food is delivered to the historic Wallajah Mosque, where the volunteers serve food to the fasting people.
This is what famous personalities have to say
Famous personalities, such as Nawab Abdul Ali of Arcot, have praised this tradition as it maintains mutual brotherhood in the society. He said, “In a diverse country like India, it is very important to have respect for all religions.”
Harish Makkar, a volunteer at Sufi Dar, while talking to Kashmir TOI, said, “Everyday we change the menu and serve vegetable biryani, chana rice, pulao, cauliflower rice, etc.” He further said, “Everyday around 1000-1200 Muslim fasting people come to the mosque for Iftar. The sevadars of Sufi Dar have been serving them for the last 40 years.”
Users are also praising it on social media
People are also praising this tradition on social media and calling it an example for the coming generations. A Facebook user wrote, “Salute to this Hindu temple for serving food during Ramadan! Your kindness and generosity is a great example of inter-religious harmony. May your selfless service inspire others too.” Another user said, “This is the India I grew up in – full of kindness and humanity.”
The temple also delivers food to homes
This temple distributes food every Amavasya night in the evening and also works to deliver food to the homes of the needy. The special thing is that its interiors are adorned with pictures of Hindu and Muslim saints, Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Guru Nanak and many other great men. Every devotee who comes here feels a spiritual connection in some form or the other.
