Nāndi is a Nizari

Nizari

'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...

 Isma'ili ceremony during which food offered to the Imām-e Zamān

Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine)

The Ismaili view on the Imamah differs from the Twelver Shi'a view, in particular because the Imam in Ismailism is the Noor of God . Ismailis believe that the Noor of God is present in the Imam, and that there is only a Ẓāhirī difference between each one...

 is sold off at auction to people attending the Jamatkhana (the Ismaili place of worship). The money obtained through the sale of Nāndi is sent to the Imām by a group of people from the Ismaili community (Jama'at) given that responsibility. The people in charge of selling the food are volunteers from the Jama'at, they announce what is on the plate and members of the Jama'at put their hands up to buy it. The preparation of the food is done at home and it is brought to the Jamātkhāne, the Mukhi (Ismaili minister) mentions the food during a blessing and tells the congregation that it has been offered to the Imām and the benefits of it are for the whole Jamāt, the food is known as "Mehmāni." If no physical Mehmāni has been brought to the Jamātkhāna then a symbolic plate called the "Mehmāni plate" can be touched during the Du'a Karavi

Du'a karavi

Du‘ā' Karāwī is a Nizari Isma'ili ceremony during which the Ismaili asks God for His forgivness through the Imam of the Time. The Qur'an states that the Muslim must repent of their sins; it further stipulates that the believer must approach the presence of the Prophet Muhammad and seek forgiveness...

 ceremony, this serves as a substitute for physical food.

The origins of Nāndi are said to be in the Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad

Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...

's time when a similar practice occurred.

The offering of Mehmāni and buying and selling of Nāndi are not mandatory on Isma'ilis, only Holy Du'a

Holy Du'a

Holy Du'ā is the mandatory Nizari Ismaili prayer recited three times a day, at dawn , sundown and evening . Only Nizari Ismailis are permitted to enter the Jamatkhana during the recitation the Holy Du'a, however it can be performed in one's home or any other place as well...

, Dasond

Tithe

A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...

 and following the Farmān

Farman

Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were...

s of the Imām are mandatory. Nāndi is symbolic and supplementary.