Muscat, Dubai And Beyond: Chorulla Palli WhatsApp Groups Global And Expanding

Dubai/Muscat: This is the world of ‘Chorulla Palli‘ — literally translated from Malayalam as “The Mosque with Meal” — a digital movement that has evolved from a cheeky student curiosity in Kerala into a global humanitarian network spanning the GCC and beyond.

The Chorulla Palli WhatsApp groups have emerged as a critical digital safety net for destitute students and low-wage workers, in Kerala and Middle East. For these individuals — many of whom are bachelors living in hostels, workers on minimum wage, or job seekers on visitor visas — securing a nutritious daily meal is a constant financial struggle. Here, the public Iftars (breaking the fast events) in mosques, tents and community centres become helpful for them, and the Chorulla Palli WhatsApp groups (and now websites as well) help them to find good and quality food for both breaking the fast and as well as for pre-dawn meal.

The primary benefit of these groups is the democratisation of information. While UAE mosques offer free community Iftar meals, the sheer volume of people often leads to food shortages, leaving many to “return disappointed.” By providing real-time updates, voice notes, and location maps, the ‘Chorulla Palli’ network acts as a guiding machine for those in need to specific locations where food is guaranteed and crowds are manageable.

Beyond mere convenience, the initiative bridges the gap between charity and accessibility. It allows students and low-income youth to bypass the uncertainty of where their next meal is coming from, ensuring they can participate in communal traditions regardless of their financial status or religion. By filtering out “unnecessary forwards” and focusing on accurate, actionable data, these groups transform a simple messaging app into a powerful tool for survival and dignity.

The Muscat Pioneer: Muhammed Afridi Murikoli

While the movement has roots in the narrow lanes of Kozhikode, its expansion into the Sultanate of Oman can be traced back to one man: Muhammed Afridi Murikoli. An accountant at the real estate firm Grand Properties in Muscat, Afridi, who hails from Kadirur near Thalassery, saw the potential of the digital grapevine to solve a very human problem: hunger.

Visuals from a community Iftar

“I started this group in 2023 after seeing a Chorulla Palli WhatsApp group in Thalassery,” Afridi told Timeline. “At that time, it was a formal group. The world was still recovering from the Covid pandemic, and not all mosques had resumed their full Iftar services. Initially, I shared the group link only with my friends and closest circles. We started with just 200 people.”

By 2025, the Muscat Chorulla Palli group had exploded. “It grew to its full size with over 1,000 members. People started sharing as much information as possible,” Afridi recalls. “I eventually had the chance to relax as the members themselves became the reporters, sharing mosque locations and specific Iftar details. By 5:00 pm every day during Ramadan, the group become a hive of activity.”

Beyond Charity: A Rejection of Commercialisation

As the groups grew in influence, so did the interest from outside parties looking to profit from the massive reach. However, Afridi remains steadfast in keeping the initiative pure of his Chorulla Palli WhatsApp initiative.

“Interestingly, many have contacted me for collaborations and marketing through the group. Some people even contacted me wanting to buy the group,” Afridi reveals. “I have not consented to either. I want to continue as long as it goes. I don’t want to do any business because the purpose was never profit. The main thing is the happiness of people.”

For Afridi, the reward is in the feedback. “People call me to say the group has been a great help for them and their friends. There were occasions where people called me saying they had a surplus of food for distribution. I would post it in the group, and it helped connect that food to people who needed it. I find true happiness in that.”

The Dubai Connection: From Curiosity to Community

The story in the UAE follows a similar trajectory. What began four years ago as a whim by friends in Kozhikode –Faseeh, Akhil, Akash, Suhail, Haseeb, and Anas — has now become a staple for Malayali expatriates in Dubai, reports Malayala Manorama.

Chorulla Palli WhatsApp groups

Faseeh, who now works in the purchase department of a private company in Dubai Investment Park (DIP), brought the concept with him when he migrated. “We realized there was a greater need for a Chorulla Palli group here than back home,” Faseeh told Manorama. In 2023, he designed a logo for the group, and the response was overwhelming. Today, the network has expanded into three distinct groups, providing a vital service for bachelors on low wages and those on visitor visas searching for work.

The information shared is meticulously detailed. From voice notes describing the “biryani route” through Oud Mehta to digital pins on Google Maps, the groups ensure that no one returns disappointed due to a mosque being overcrowded or running out of food.

A Menu of Brotherhood

The “Chorulla Palli” groups aren’t just about finding food; they are about finding a taste of home and community. The updates often detail specific menus:

The Essentials: Dates, water, and Labano (yoghurt water).

The Main Event: Chicken Biryani or Arabic-style Chicken Majboos served in cardboard boxes.

Traditional Flavours: Harees (a wheat and meat porridge) sponsored by local Arab families.

Kerala Favourites: Malabar Biryani, Ghee Rice, and even the occasional “Mandi” updates, leading to sister groups like ‘Mandhiyulla Palli’.

The Future: Digital Maturity

As of 2026, the movement has reached a new level of sophistication. Beyond WhatsApp, a dedicated portal—iftarinuae.com—now provides a searchable database of Iftar tents and mosques across all seven Emirates. This digital power allows those with transport to travel to less crowded mosques, easing the burden on local committees who often struggle with the “Iftar Rush” caused by viral WhatsApp posts.

IftarinUAE.com provide detailed information on Iftar spots

From the hostels of Perinthalmanna to the high-rises of Business Bay, the “Chorulla Palli” phenomenon proves that for the modern Malayali diaspora, charity is only a WhatsApp message away. As Muhammed Afridi Murikoli puts it: “The purpose is the happiness of people. I will continue doing this as long as I can.”