Langar
Guru Ka Langar : The philosophy behind the Langar (Guru's kitchen-cum-eating-house) is two-fold: First is to provide training to the Sikhs in voluntary service and second is to help banish all distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable from the Sikhs' minds. All human beings, high or low, and of any caste or color may sit and eat in the Langar. No discrimination on grounds of the country of origin, color, caste or religion must be made while making people sit in rows for eating.
The
Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh
Guru,
Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality
between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, colour,
creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality,
the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community,
inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. "..the Light of God is in all
hearts." (sggs 282)
For the first time in history, Guruji designed an institution in which all people would sit on the floor together, as equals, to eat the same simple food. It is here that all people high or low, rich or poor, male or female, all sit in the same pangat (literally "row" or "line") to share and enjoy the food together.
The institution of Guru ka Langar has served the community in many ways. It has ensured the participation of women and children in a task of service for mankind. Women play an important role in the preparation of meals, and the children help in serving food to the pangat. Langar also teaches the etiquette of sitting and eating in a community situation, which has played a great part in upholding the virtue of sameness of all human beings; providing a welcome, secure and protected sanctuary.
Everyone is welcome to share the Langar; no one is turned away. The food is normally served twice a day, every day of the year. Each week a family or several families volunteer to provide and prepare the Langar. This is very generous, as there may be several hundred people to feed, and caterers are not allowed. All the preparation, the cooking and the washing-up is also done by voluntary helpers.
Darbar Saheb's Guru Ka Langar: A Sikh temple without a Community Kitchen is inconceivable. Cooked food is serviced in the kitchen of the Harmandir Sahib 24 hours to all visitors irrespective of religion, caste, creed and nationality. The expenses are met out of the Temple funds. Approximately 40,000 visitors share the meals everyday presently.
