'Neha Bharti’s Iftar at Jama Masjid Is More Than a Meal, It’s a Message of Hope'

'Politics can use religion to divide people, but it can never fill an empty stomach,' she tells The Quint.

Neha Bharti serving iftar at Jama Masjid.

(Photo Credit: Ayush Omer)

As I walked through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi during Ramzan, the air was thick with the aroma of kebabs, simmering haleem, and freshly fried pakoras. 

The area near the Jama Masjid was alive with the chatter of fasting devotees waiting to break their fast. But amid this familiar scene, I noticed something extraordinary—a young woman in a simple kurta, distributing food with a quiet determination.

Her name is Neha Bharti, and for the past three years, this 27-year-old Hindu woman has been serving iftar to hundreds of fasting Muslims at the Jama Masjid.

Neha Bharti has been serving iftar at Jama Masjid in Old Delhi for three years.

(Photo Credit: Ayush Omer)

I sat down with Neha as she arranged plates of dates and Roohafza. She greeted me with a warm smile and spoke about how this all began. 

"It was my parents who gave me the idea. They always taught me that humanity is above all religions," she told me. Along with her family and close friends Ramsha Noor and Ranita, she prepares iftar meals for 250-300 people every day during Ramzan.

But this isn’t the first time Neha has stepped up for a cause. In 2022, during the farmers’ protest, she volunteered tirelessly, travelling daily to Delhi’s borders to cook and serve meals for protesting farmers.

"The movement taught me that love is the only true religion. It was from there that the idea of arranging iftar during Ramzan took root," she told me.

Neha Bharti during 2022 farmers' protest.

(Image accessed by Ayush Omer)

Neha is not just an activist but also an academic. A postgraduate in Fine Arts from Delhi University’s College of Arts and Commerce, she is currently preparing for her PhD. But despite her academic commitments, her passion for social work never fades.

In a time when communities are being divided, Neha’s work is a reminder that kindness transcends religious boundaries.

Along with her family and close friends Ramsha Noor and Ranita, Neha prepares iftar meals for 250-300 people every day during Ramadan.

(Photo Credit: Ayush Omer)

Before I left, she smiled and said, "Politics can use religion to divide people, but it can never fill an empty stomach. If love builds walls, hatred will crumble on its own."

As I walked away, I couldn’t help but think—if more people carried Neha’s spirit, the world would be a kinder place.

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