Langar
Langar is the communal meal shared by Sikhs at the end of each worship service at the Gurdwara. Inclusion and equality are central to this ritual. Food is cooked on-site by many visitors of all genders, including the Hindus who regularly attend the Gurdwara. Though vegetarianism is not a tenet of Sikhism, food served during Langar is always vegetarian so that all may partake, regardless of religious or medical dietary restrictions. Though traditionally everything eaten at Langar must be prepared on site, one little girl said this Gurdwara was her all-time favorite because it occassionally serves, "American food, like Oreos" as part of the Langar. However, aside from the occassional inclusion of store-bought cookies during tea or ice cream during Langar, all food served is Indian food.
The Significance of Langar
Members of the Gurdwara repeatedly emphasize the fundamental importance of equality in Sikhism. For many, Langar is one of the most clear-cut illustrations of that value. Rajin, a young law student, speaks of the ways that Sikhism emphasizes equality, saying, "The same thing happens during Langar, when everyone is seated in the same hall and eats together. And this was a revolutionary concept when Sikhism started, because back then it was very much classist...people in the upper class would eat together, and people in the lower class would eat together, and then [in Sikhism] you would have everyone…eating together in the same place, on the same surface.”
Angela, the mother of two teenage boys, echoed the same sentiment. When talking about the most special parts of going to the Gurdwara she said, "Sharing in the Langar is also an important part of our faith too, people of all walks of life sitting down together and sharing a basic meal."
For Ruppa, a twenty-five year old woman highly involved in Sikh activism and youth movements, Langar is an embodiment of Sikh values of service and generosity. She spoke of Langar as a way that Sikhism gives back to its community, to anyone who cares to join.
For Jasmine, an 18 year old student, Langar is a weekly reminder that food is a blessing to be grateful for, an illustration of the nourishing power of faith.
During Langar, everyone sits cross-legged on rugs laid out in rows. On particularly crowded days, some people stay mingling in the Divan hall until spots open in the Langar hall. At this Gurdwara, Langar is served by men, women, and children who pass out disposable trays, spoons, cups, and napkins to those seated. The serving process, much like the worship, is constant, with servers passing up and down the rows constantly, calling out the names of the dishes in their serving buckets, often singing or humming. People eat each dish as it is served, and more food is added as the servers pass by. Special care is taken to finish all food, as waste is highly discouraged.
As people finish, they relieve servers, pass by with trash bags, visit with friends, or help with dishes. As with Langar preparation, serving, clearing, and cleanup are communally shared activities.
