GURU
DA LANGAR
LANGAR is
the term used for common/community kitchen in the Sikh religion, where food is
served to all for free. It is open to all irrespective of the barriers of social
status, religion, caste, colour, age, gender etc. The concept is more for
developing a community feeling and service to the society and the fact of the
food being free is misunderstood being just incidental. It would be just like
saying that you get free prasad in a Gurudwara.
The institution was started
by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It was designed to uphold the
principle of equality between all people, a revolutionary concept in the caste
ridden society of 16th century India. Guru Nanak Dev Ji designed
this institution where all people (sangat)
would sit in the same row/line crosslegged (pangat)
without any social barriers. The tradition also expresses the ethics of
sharing, community and oneness of all humankind.
The institution has ensured
the participation of Sikhs in the task of service for mankind. The food is
prepared and served only by volunteers (sewadaars)
and no caterers are allowed. All washing and cleaning is also done by these
volunteers only. This function of sewa (service)
results in forging a community feeling as everyone drops their masks of ego and
the feeling of ‘I’ and ‘ME’ is obliterated. This institution bestows upon the
Sikhs a distinct individuality, dignity and unity. It gives them the discipline
of service and a spirit of co-operation, teaches them philanthropy, equality
and brotherhood.
The combined efforts of
people help to organise the institution of langar
based on the following principals:-
Kirat
Karo - Earn by honest
means through hard work
Vand
Chakko - Sharing with all
Naam
Japo - Chanting/remembering
the name of God at all times
While preparing food for the
langar the mouth and nose are to be
covered with a cloth. Due regard is made to purity, hygiene and cleanliness.
The servers should not touch the serving utensils to the plates of those being
served. They should also not touch the hand or plate of those they are serving.
The menu is vegetarian and
normally consists of lentils (maanh di dal), a vegetable (alu gobhi), kheer, pickle (achar), salad and
chappatis (parshada). Sometimes rice and curry may also be served. The type of vegetable
is mainly dependent on seasonal availability and all other items mainly remain
the same.
The principle of langar is
so important that even Emperor Akbar had to sit in the ‘pangat’ and eat food with commoners before he could meet Guru Amar
Das Ji. The king who was used to being served in a lavish style was so impressed
by the simplicity and a feeling of community that he offered a big donation to
the institution.
When President Nasser of
Egypt visited the Golden Temple, he was so touched to see people of all
religions serving/partaking langar
that his party left all the money that they were carrying as a contribution to
its running. Such accounts of people having been moved after attending a langar are endless.
In their prayers the Sikhs seek
a favour from the Almighty “LOH LANGAR
TAPDE REHEN - may the hot plates of langar
ever remain in service.”
The last words of Guru
Gobind Singh were “KEEP THE LANGAR EVER
OPEN.” One of his teachings
reads, “Deg tegh jag me dou chalai (may
langar (charity) and sword (instrument of securing justice) together prevail in
the world).” The Guru’s maxim “Deg tegh
fateh (May langar and sword be ever triumphant)” is included in the daily Ardas (prayer) of the Sikhs.
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