Langar and Its Place in Today's Gurdwara

Being born and raised in Canada and having gone practically one gurdwara regularly in my life I was surprised to find the huge difference in the Langars served at the local gurdwara and the gurdwaras in India. This topic has currently been the topic of a heated discussion at my local gurdwara.
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I don't know how Langar is prepared at your gurdwara, but at mines Guru da langar which was designed by guruji as a humble helathy meal to be enjoyed by all, has turned into a feast. In India and in respectfull Gurdwaras around the world all thats made in Langar is a very thin watery dal, and perhaps one subzhi and very thin plain rotian with a dessrt usually keer,and thats how i believe it should be, and was ment to be by the guru. But at my local Gurdwara there are 2 thick spicy dals, and 1 or 2 spicy subhzian, with all kinds of desserts, and thick oily rotian, and pakora are made almost daily and theres so many mitiyan and sweets to chose from.

And when people try to oppose to all this the sangat argues that the "ragis get bored and tired of eating the same bland food" however as far as I can say the ragis chose there profession and this is the kind of food that comes with that profession, and the ragis should be more concerned with serving the guru than whats there to eat at the gurdwara. All I can say is that Guru ji ka Langar was meant to be a simple and humble meal, but is being used today in most gurdwaras as a feast, and its really sad because going to the gurdwara regulary is good for you, but the four jugs of butter thats added to the dals is not. And then the sangat asks "why are there so many heart problems in our comunity"

 
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HardKaur ji, it is the same situation of langar at our gurdwara where over 1000 people attend the sunday diwaan. The suggestions made are not opposed but they are not enforced & hence people forget - not to use butter but olive oil, use fresh fruit instead of pakorey for snack, just one daal and one sabji is enough etc. etc. It is for the reason as people take 'langar sewa' usually to celebrate something that they do not throw party for, so they want to include all kind of 'foods' to make it festive occasion for the sangat and their guests..NO, it is not for our raagies, they take extra walks to take off the weight that they can't avoid putting on while eating langar on daily basis. They have even started to throw away the left over food so that they can fix simple daal for themselves.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8160

After we lost one of our beloved friends to stroke last year, lots of women have just stopped eating the served pakoras and feeding our children healthy food before coming to Gurdwara so that none of us is tempted for the snacks. Some people watch it and now serve 'fruit' etc. so sangat actually eats. Nobody wants the prepared langar to be wasted or they have to pack it and take back home. so it works if enough people understand the health issue and excercise control.

Another thing that you might want to do, is to talk to the laangri. Fro example, he can ensure that 'tarke' are made with healthy oils and excessive butter is not used. You & some other friends might want to start bringing those healthy foods for storage, so that the family who has taken langar sewa, can be asked to just not bring butter in the raashan.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji KI fateh.

On my maiden trip to Punjab...among the things i found utterly enjoyable was the SIMPLE GURU KA LANGGAR..after being forced to "feast" on Malaysian Gurdawra langgars...
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All this "menu" driven Guru ke langgars are actually attempts by the rich..and not so rich to show off..their wealth...and the not so rich try to catch up or their langgar will be termed.."roti dall he see....phir rehen dio jaan nu ghareh he aram karde aen.." In some places people actually phone up and ask what the "menu" is so as to make a decision as to which gurdawra to go to..

Thirdly what is happening in MOST Malaysian Gurdawras..due to lack of SEWADAARS.... is "bought ready made...food from the Bazaar" is then served as langgar...Toseh and Roti Chanai from Hindu Tamil Restaurants is served as Breakfast after asa dee waar....or puris etc are bought for lunch langgar..
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We need to STOP and retrospect what direction we are going in... the trend should be towards SIMPLE daal Roti..cooked with healthy oils as Prabhjyot Kaur has stated. Kheer or fruits should be the one dessert.

Jarnail Singh gyani

wjkk
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8160
wjkf

i firmly beleive that langar should be simple.i grew up in a rich colony of delhi.what i watched their in langar was disgusting.every time their is langar in the gurudwara a bhai ji stands their at door so that poor people and children will not enter gurudwara.poor children just stand outside the gurudwara for their turn.bhai ji threatens them not to go inside.he told them langar will be given to them after some time.first rich sikhs and punjabi hindus enjoy their feast of langar and then only the leftover langar
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8160
was distribuited to them.so i am totaly against the making of langar a feast.langar should be simple and large in quantity so that it should be given to needy people

that LOOKS LIKE Malik Bhago'S dwara..not THE DWARA of Bhai Lalo Ji that Guru nanak Ji went to...disgusting parody of the Guru ka Langgar of Guru Nanak Ji Sahib..
Shame on such Parbhandaks and Bhai jis ....

Jarnail Singh gyani

wow kds1980 ji I can't believe that people are so shamless as to actually stop poor people from entering the gurdwara and having langar!!!! Thats disgusting and against sikhism!!!! And what Gyani Jarnail Singh ji says about people calling the gurdwara just find out whats for lungar wow I knew things were bad but I had no idea that they were this bad.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8160

At my local gurdwara they're also having problems with people who come to the gurdwara to make food like pakora or saag for parties theye are throwing at home NOT RELIGOUS functions simply because making saag at home creates a spicy smell.

Dear Khalsa Ji,

The intent of langer is (i) to break the caste system and (ii) to support those who have come from distance and do not have any of there own dwelling in the place they are.
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Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8160

Even Guru nanak Dev Ji serves the best of meals to those who came to gurdwara. Though, at his own family they ate meals of course grains.

I hold the opinion that in langer the iteams served should be such which the local Sikh society can afford from its own resources. Those who part-take langer should not discuss what was served.

The lungar, in my opinion, can be a Daal and Roti, or even a feast. The khalsa should take it what is sent by 'The Sat'. khalsa should not discuss the content of the lungar even in her or his own mind. Khalsa should not select the gurudwara based on what is serves in lunger there.

I have lived for nearly 34 years in south India and have attended many functions in which meals were served. Not even once I noticed any one discussing what was served. They just come participate in all the function, bless the family of the host, and go back to there places. This how we should part-take lungar.

With love and respect for all.

Amarpal Singh

Thank you Amarpal Virji for, once agian, excellent response.

Thank you Prabjyot Kaur Ji.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8160

With love and respect for all.

Amarpal Singh