Eid Nakhlistan

Image via: Nakhlistan website

In photos: Cape Town NGO cooks 179 pots of food for the less fortunate on Eid

Cape Town NGO Nakhlistan is doing all it can to feed more than 90 000 people in Cape Town on Eid – a service it has provided for 37 years.

Eid Nakhlistan

Image via: Nakhlistan website

Cape Town NGO, Nakhlistan, which means “oasis” and “sustenance,” is doing exactly what it has been doing for the last 37 years — feeding the less fortunate on Eid. 

Nakhlistan has, once again, undertaken its duty of cooking 179 x 130 lt pots of Aknie to feed over 90 000 of the less fortunate in the Western Cape. The food was prepared at the Callies Rugby Grounds in Rylands, Cape Town. 

Image via: Nakhlistan

WATCH: NAKHLISTAN FEEDS THE NEEDY ON EID 

In 1984, Shukoor Mowzer and two friends realized that some of their community members in Athlone, Cape Town, did not have food for Eid elebrations and this is how Nakhlistan was born. Two pots of food were cooked with donations from family and friends.

Today, 37 years later, the selfless service and mission continues with an extra 177 posts of food. 

“Nakhlistan pioneered the cooking of these huge pots of food on a wood fire and is so pleased to see how other organizations are following suit. Nakhlistan is Muslim-based and caters for all the needy in the Western Cape, no matter which religious or cultural background,” the organisation said in a statement. 

Image via: Nakhlistan

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY 

According to Nakhlistan, Muslims are obliged to pay alms to the needy on Eid and during the month of Ramadaan, when Muslim’s fast from before sunrise to after sunset.

“Nakhlistan is that vehicle to distribute these alms via Food Parcels and cooking big pots of Aknie, an aromatic meat, potatoes and rice dish. Hundreds of people come to witness this cooking phenomenon, the night before Eid-ul Fitr, however, COVID-19 has changed all this,” it said. 

Image via: Nakhlistan
Image via: Nakhlistan

CELEBRATING IN A CAUTIOUS MANNER

While Health Minister Zweli Mkhize wished all those celebrating Eid in his latest COVID-19 statement, he also said that we celebrate at a time when the world is faced with a major pandemic of devastating consequences. 

“In South Africa, we are seeing a resurgence that could turn into a fully blown third wave – having been through two devastating waves, we must work together to prevent history repeating itself,” he said. 

“I, therefore, appeal to the Muslim community and all South Africans to draw from this strength as we continue to celebrate our religious holidays responsibly. As we come together with our loved ones, let us not forget the rules of social distancing, wearing of masks and limiting the size of our gatherings,” he added.