Guru Ka Langar in Golden Temple: Facts About World’s Largest Free Kitchen
All the religions agree that there’s no better deed than feeding the hungry. And the Golden Temple in India has been doing this for ages. Other than its marvelous architecture, the Harmandir Sahib is home to one of the most remarkable humanitarian practices in the world—the Langar. Hot food is served to millions of people every day, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, or social status.
You must be wondering that other religions also provide free food to people. So, what’s special about the Langar of Golden Temple? Or, why is it known as the world’s largest kitchen? The answer is straightforward. Its scale and organization involved. You won’t believe that Langar at Shri Harmandir Sahib serves 50,000 to 100,000 hot meals every day!
What’s more surprising is this number often goes up on special occasions, festivals, and religious events. Langar proves that food has the power to unite humanity when shared with love and compassion. And the experience of “Guru ka Langar,”as it is fondly referred by Sikhs, is beyond words.
Quick Run Through About Langar Of Golden Temple
- Location: Golden Temple Road, Atta Mandi, Amritsar, Punjab 143006
- Golden Temple timings: 24/7
- Golden Temple Langar Timings: Meal is served throughout the day
- Nearby Locations: Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Temple, Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary, Wagah Border, The Partition Museum, Akal Takht, Bathinda Fort
The Origins of Langar
Langar was introduced by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, in the 15th century. He believed in the principles of equality, community service, and sharing. The whole idea was to provide food for everyone, regardless of their background, and create a sense of unity and selflessness. The practice was then established by the third Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Amar Das Ji. He organized community kitchens to ensure that no one, especially the marginalized, went hungry.
Langar in the Golden Temple, ever since it started, reflects the principles of compassion and humility. People from all walks of life come together to receive nourishment, both physically and spiritually. The meals are served free of cost, demonstrating the Sikh principles of selfless service (seva) and equality.
It is also believed that even the Mughal Emperor Akbar sat along with sangat (fellow devotees) for langar! Till date, everyone is welcomed to eat the langar and no one is turned away.
The Working of the Langar in Golden Temple Amritsar
This is the obvious question – how does langar work? This community kitchen operates 24×7, 365 days a year. Sevadars or volunteers prepare, cook, and serve food throughout the day and night. That said, there’s no fixed timing of langar in Golden Temple. You may visit anytime and take part in it. Moreover, the concept of langar is so generous that the caterers aren’t allowed.
Dedicated sevadars take care of everything, right from cooking to cleaning. Food is prepared in massive quantities using large cooking vessels and industrial sized ovens. You won’t believe 25 quintal cereals, 100 quintal wheat flour, 10 quintal rice, 10 quintal sugar, 5 quintal pure ghee, and 5000 liter milk are used on an average daily.
FYI, the langar meal usually includes a simple and nutritious combination of roti (flatbread), dal (lentils), rice, sabzi (vegetables), and sometimes kheer (a sweet dessert). All these are served with a glass of water and buttermilk sometimes.
Wondering how do they prepare bulk quantities of parshada or roti (flatbreads)? A lebanon-based devotee donated a chapati making machine here. It prepares 25,000 rotis in just an hour! Other than this, there are machines for sieving and kneading doughs.
Another unique aspect of the Langar at the Golden Temple is its use of community participation. Over 1,000 sevadars volunteer at any given time at the Langar in the Golden Temple kitchen, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They pour in from all over the world to offer their time and services including washing utensils, serving food, cleaning the dining areas. This selfless act of service is considered an essential aspect of Sikh way of living and is encouraged for people of all backgrounds.
The Philosophy Behind Guru ka Langar
Guru ka langar is more than feeding the body. It holds a philosophical and spiritual significance in Sikhism. Sharing a common meal sitting in pangat (line) is considered as an act of humility and oneness. No one is above or below when they sit together in the Langar hall to eat— an apt example of Sikh teachings of selflessness, equality, and community welfare.
Additionally, Guru ka Langar is a symbol of the Sikh commitment to social justice. Providing free food to anyone who seeks it, regardless of their financial status or background, breaks down social barriers and fosters a spirit of brotherhood. Moreover, there’s no fixed langar timing in the Golden Temple.
Talking of the spiritual aspect, Sikhs believe that sharing food with others, especially those in need, purifies the soul and brings one closer to God. The act of preparing food for others is seen as a form of worship, where the volunteer is serving others and connecting with the divine.
To better understand the philosophy behind the guru ka langar, here’s a quote from Bhai Desa Singh taken from Rehitnama “A Sikh who is ‘well to do’ must look to the needs of his poor neighbors. Whenever he meets a traveler or a pilgrim from a foreign country, he must serve him devotedly.”
Bottom Line
Today, almost every gurudwara has a langar supported by the community in general. No one returns with an empty stomach at meal time in a Gurdwara. For a Sikh, feeding everyone is an act of devotion and so is the sevadars’ participation in services from cooking to cleaning the used dishes.
Moreover, it is mandatory for a Sikh to contribute 1/10th of his earnings (daswand) for the welfare of the community. He/she must also contribute the service of his hands whenever and wherever possible, with seva rendered in langar being the most commendable.
In short, the Golden Temple langar is worth everything and one must experience the world’s largest community kitchen at least once in their lifetime. And for this, you should contact Indian Travel Package – a leading tour and travel company for international travelers. They serve clients from the USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, Australia, London, Spain, Guyana (South Africa), New Zealand, Denmark, Belgium, and India. They offer customized itineraries and multilingual support to cater to clients across the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving at Langar usually begins after early morning prayers and continues throughout the day until late evening.
The Langar prepares over 100,000 meals daily, with the numbers rising during religious events, festivals, and other occasions.
The idea of the langar is to bridge social gaps and foster brotherhood. Unity and selflessness are two of the basic principles of Sikhism. Thus, volunteering is open to everyone, regardless of background or religion.
The Langar is funded by donations from devotees and contributions from volunteers. You can either donate in cash or kind, whichever suits you the best.
The langar meal usually includes chapati (flatbread), dal (lentil soup), rice, and occasionally a vegetable curry and kheer.
There are no fixed langar timings in the Golden Temple and operates almost 24/7, with meals available continuously from early morning until late night.
The langar maintains high hygiene standards, with volunteers wearing protective clothing and following thorough cleanliness measures.
No, the langar is entirely free of cost for everyone. However, you can donate as per your wish in the boxes meant especially for donations.
