BENGALURU, 27 FEB 

When Taraweeh prayers end at Bengaluru’s mosques and worshippers disperse, 28-year-old Sadiq Rahmathulla and his team begin their work—preparing and distributing Sehri meals to those in need.

The initiative began during the pandemic under the guidance of Sadiq’s grandfather, former BBMP councillor Khalaq, in Shivajinagar. "We saw students, senior citizens, and migrants struggling to access early morning meals. Many couldn’t cook or store food, so we decided to step in," says Sadiq.

Initially covering Frazer Town, Vasanth Nagar, and Lingarajapuram, the effort gradually expanded city-wide. With volunteers including students, food delivery workers, and professionals, the team built a network of support. Several hotels offered free meals, while volunteers personally delivered food on bikes.

Over time, women from the community joined in, cooking fresh meals for the service. "Home-cooked food gave it a personal touch and ensured better quality," Sadiq says. Local donors provide rice, oil, and packaging, while hotel owners like Ibrahim contribute bulk supplies, including rice bags and food boxes.

Each night after Taraweeh, the team meets in person or coordinates via calls and WhatsApp to finalise plans. By 4am, volunteers ensure hot meals—rice, dal, chapati, vegetables, fruits, and occasionally chicken curry or kebabs—reach the needy across the city.

The team also launched 'bangaloresehri.in,' a website where people can request meals or connect with nearby volunteers.

During the pandemic, they served 2,000 to 3,000 meals daily. Now, with increased support, they aim to distribute 20,000 meals per day, starting from the first Sehri on 1 March.