Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Langar

It was our first visit to a Gurudwara last sunday. Although we had been planning to visit one for quite sometime, we didn't get an oppurtunity. Finally when our friends Ravi and Raji mentioned that they had volunteered to provide and prepare the langar and they needed us to help them, we very happily agreed.

Langar means the free food that is served in a Gurudwara to Sikhs and non-Sikhs. Basically in the Gurudwara near our place in florida, every sunday some family volunteers to sponser and prepare food for everyone. I was all very excited to take part in the process. Personally we were very happy to be a part of their experience. It gave us an oppurtunity to learn something about Sikh religion and culture.

This is the kitchen where the food was prepared in the Gurudwara.


The pantry was stocked.


We , A bunch of friends spent the saturday evening in preparing for the next day. The Veggies were chopped.



A lot of preperation was done on saturday evening. We had to cook food for around 200 to 250 people.


On Sunday few people start arriving early morning in Gurudwara.

People start the day with an exercise session in the morning.



The stoves were lit in the kitchen.


Breakfast is prepared for people present in the morning. It was Poha this sunday accompanied by fruits and rasgulla. All prepared by volunteers.


A lot of volunteers arrive to cook food for the langar.


Our friend Lehar's mom was very helpful in supervising the cooking. She is busy in making Dal Makhani.


Our friend Raji immersed in cooking Jeera Rice. 


Boondi Raita in the making.



A lot of other volunteers arrived to make Rotis.


The tradition of langar is all about sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind.


Langar upholds the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status.


People selflessly do all the work.


The food was amazingly delicious which was served after the prayer session. It's not only during the preparation of food. Even serving the food,  washing-up, cleaning the dishes, cleaning the kitchen and the community hall are also done by volunteers. I was totally perplexed how people selflessly served. 

It is one place, where nobody is big or nobody is small. It only teaches us that 'All are equal in the eyes of God'.