EIDUL FITR FEEDING | COOKING 2022 | 1 or 2 MAY | CALLIES RUGBY FIELD | NOLL AVENUE | RYLANDS ESTATE
Ramadaan is about caring and sharing and that is exactly what Nakhlistan stands for.
In 1984, Shukoor Mowzer and 2 friends realized that in the Athlone area where they were living, some of their community members did not have food for Eid Celebrations and this is how Nakhlistan was born. 2 pots of food were cooked with donations from family and friends.
Today, 38 years later, Nakhlistan will cook 179 x 130lt pots of Aknie to feed over 90 000 of the less fortunate in the Western Cape, on the day of Eidul Fitr. That is why the name Nakhlistan was chosen. It is a Persian word which means ‘oasis and sustenance’.
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.
Muslims are obliged to pay alms to the needy 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 Eidul Fitr, however Covid-19 has changed all this. This year the moon will be sighted either on Sunday 1st May or Monday 2nd May 2022. As soon as the moon is sighted, all activities at the Callies Rugby Field in Noll Avenue, Rylands Estate, shifts into gear because Eid is the next day.
The ingredients include: 4.5 tons of meat, almost 4 tons of rice, almost 4 tons of potatoes, 3 tons of onions, various spices and 60 000 pieces of wood, as we cook on a wood fire. Due to the pandemic, limited volunteers assist with the cooking of the food. We have a safety officer and a covid-19 compliance officer on duty. Due to social distancing we have to cook in 2 shifts this year. Shift 1 – 96 pots and shift 2 – 83 pots. The smell of the burning wood, the steam and aroma from the huge pots, are a sight to behold. Join Nakhlistan when we do a FBLive broadcast when we start to cook.
Nakhlistan Ramadaan and Eid Cooking distribution areas include: Wynberg, Brooklyn, Cape Town CBD, Nyanga, Kewtown, Pollsmoor Prison, Goodwood Correctional, Khayelitsha Site C, S-Section, The Farm, Valhalla Park, Bishop Lavis, Elsies River, Uitsig, Hanover Park, Manenberg, Bonteheuwel, Athlone, Atlantis, Faure, Lavender Hill, Chattsworth Malmesbury, Oceanview, Vrygrond, Macassar, Silvertown, Bridgetown, Bokmakierrie, Delft, Belhar, Netreg, Kriefgat/ Factreton, Connaught Estate, Clarkes Estate, Statice Heights, Garden Village, Belgravia, Montana, Capricorn Village, Parkwood, Kuilsriver, Blackheath, Blue Downs, Eerste Rivier, Stellenbosch, Seawinds, Sherwood Park, Woodstock, Gugulethu, Eastridge, Beacon Valley, Woodlands, Westridge, Tafelsig, Franschhoek, Lansdowne, Retreat, PenTech, Grassy Park, Ruyterwacht, Salt River, Kapteinsklip, Hout Bay, Kalkfontein Sarepta, Sunbird Park, Malibu Village, Saldanha, Eagle Park, Pumlani, Phillipi, Samora Machel, District 6, Cavalla Town, Riviersonderend, Kraaifontein, Touwsrivier and Heideveld.
Another project of Nakhlistan is its operational Soup Kitchen in Gaza, Palestine. Due to the growing need within the community, Nakhlistan has also started a Burial Service. Nakhlistan is an NPO with PBO status, is not state funded and relies solely on the support from our generous community.
Nakhlistan says Shukran, Thank You, Tramakassie, Dankie and Nkosi to our loyal community, donors, sponsors, businesses and volunteers for their constant support over the past 38 years. Nakhlistan is operational throughout the year. Continue to support generously.
Sponsor a pot of Aknie for R3 500.
Drop off your donations at 45 Murton Road, Rylands Estate. Call Shukoor Mowzer on 021 633 4016 | 083 231 9279, or email info@nakhlistan.org.za , follow us on FB and Instagram or log onto www.nakhlistan.org.za
Banking Details: ABSA Bank | Nakhlistan | Branch Name: Athlone | Branch Code: 632005 | Acc No. 630 484 6845 Ref: Full Name (Eid Food)
For interviews contact Nakhlistan PRO | Fatima Allie | 082 066 3353
