Malick Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi

A hotel in Ajmer, Rajasthan, owned by a Hindu fsmily, is offering free lodging and boarding to the Muslims observing fasting in the holy month of Ramzan.

Aditya Goyal, the young owner of Hotel Vaibhav which is located in the Naya Bazar locality close to the Dargah of Ajmer Sharif, said the tradition was started by his father Jitendra Goyal in 2016. So far the hotel has served 512 rozdar (those observing fasting during the Islamic ninth month) till last year.

Speaking with Awaz-the voice, Aditya said in 2015, four Rozdar (Muslims fasting during Ramzan) came to his father for booking. They wanted to stay put there for the entire month of Ramzan but admitted that they didn’t have enough money to pay for the rent for a month.

His father told them not to worry as he would settle the bill to their satisfaction at the end of their stay. Aditya says, "My father did not take a single penny from them.”

This incident led to the Goyals serving the devout Muslims by making lodging and boarding free for them during the holy month.

Those staying there have the facility of eating an Iftar meal to break the fast every day and also offer namaz in a special room. “Not only the guests staying in the hotel can join the Iftar, but people from nearby areas are also free to join in. It’s a celebration each day.”

Signboard of hotel Vaibhav advertising free services

He said that a separate room had been constructed for people to pray and offer Namaz.

“We don’t want our guests to face the inconvenience of going out for namaz at the end of the day of fasting,” Goyal said.

“Even when we were recovering after the COVID-19- pandemic, my father had made the hotel free for the fasting people.”

Aditya admits that he once questioned his father's sense of business and wondered how could he offer free services to the guests. The senior Goyal calmed his son down. He told him that the hotel makes a profit during 11 months so why can’t he spend a portion of it during Ramzan.”

Aditya says, "I am happy that I am of some use to such people.’

His hotel can be booked on Oyo, the aggregator hotel booking website. One can search his hotel on the OYO app (mobile application) by searching ‘Vaibhav Ramzan” and booking will be done for free.

Booking related to accommodation can also be done online using the Oyo website. David John of Brut, who reported on this hotel, says, "The hotel is specially decorated during the days of Ramadan."

He went for Iftar in the hotel where he met the guests staying . He met the people staying in its rooms. A man from Karnataka who drove in a three-wheeler was staying in a hotel with his wife and children. 

He told Brut that he had come to Ajmer Sharif to visit the Sufi shrine of Moinuddin Chishty and he had got information about Hotel Vaibhav from the internet.

Aditya Goyal, Managing Director, of Hotel Vaibhav, said, “Ramzan is a holy month of worship, reflection and giving worldwide. We believe that it is very important to promote social responsibility and help the needy.”

He told Brut, “Through this scheme, we want to ensure that every person celebrating Ramadan can be a part of this spiritual experience, regardless of their financial status. We are planning to extend this offer to our other hotels located in Ajmer.”

Sharing his experience, Jabbar Mansoori from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh said, “This proposal by Hotel Vaibhav and OYO is highly commendable to support the spirit of Ramzan and help the underprivileged sections of the society celebrate Ramzan with their guests.

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“The peaceful stay arrangement has proved to be very helpful for us to participate in Taraweeh prayers, recitation of the Holy Quran, and other Ramzan-related activities. The hotel is located close to the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, and it’s very soothing” Mansoori said.