LANGAR.

 Langar (Sikhism)

In Sikhism, a langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ, 'kitchen')[1] is the community kitchen of a gurdwara, which serves meals free of charge to all visitors—without making a distinction of religion, caste, gender, economic status or ethnicity. People sit and eat together, and the kitchen is maintained and serviced by Sikh community volunteers.[2] Moreover, the meals are always vegetarian.[3]

Origins

The word langar has origins in the Punjabi language.[4][5]

The concept of langar—which was designed to be upheld among all people, regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender, or social status—was an innovative charity and symbol of equality introduced by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak around 1500 CE in North Indian state of Punjab.[6] The roots of such community kitchen institutions and volunteer-run charitable feeding is very old in Sikh traditions; the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim I Ching (7th century CE) wrote about monasteries with such volunteer-run kitchens.[7][8] A related concept emerged from the practices of Fariduddin Ganjshakar, a Sufi saint living in the Punjab region during the 13th century, who would redistribute sweets his visitors would bring to his khalifas and common devotees. This concept developed, over time, into langar-khana near his shrine, a practice documented in Jawahir al-Faridi compiled in 1623 CE.[9]

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