Lunch at the Langar:
Exploring a Free Kitchen in Delhi
Sarah Rich, 28 Feb 07
The plates were not overflowing and the food was not colorful, but it was delicious, hot, salty, spicy and fresh; and the parade of dal and chapati continued until everyone had had their fill. More volunteers collected used plates from satiated diners and in a short time, the crowd began to disperse. There was no lingering over this meal; another round would soon be under way.
The Gurwara Bangla Sahib langara has been feeding Delhi residents since 1935. Day in and day out a factory of human hands churns out what one member of our group observed as a day’s peace of mind for hungry members of the community. “If you get your day’s meal,” he said, “you can relax. You can survive.” It’s not a matter of survival for everyone who eats there — in fact, most people with whom we shared lunch looked happy and healthy, and had probably come as members of the spiritual community. But it’s there for anyone who needs it, and in a city of 13 million (and rapidly growing), an open, organized, clean, reliable, and free food source couldn’t be more valuable. It’s a great testament to the stability of a well-organized grassroots effort. While countless hours pass in board rooms and over policy debates to establish government-subsidized and NGO programs for feeding the hungry, a crew of volunteers at Gurwara Bangla Sahib feeds thousands upon thousands of their neighbors with no intervention, no fuss, and no strings attached.
Langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ) is the term used in the Sikh religion for the free, vegetarian-only food served in a Gurdwara and eaten by everyone sitting as equals. The Sikh Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, color, creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. “..the Light of one Universal God is in all hearts.” Click the following for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langar_%28Sikhism%29
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I first saw a documentary on this a few month ago and it impressed me very much. I am very much a believer in being a productive individual and helping yourself and not rely on hand outs. However there are often times when people have struggled and need help. Especially in poorer countries hunger is often a problem. Here in America we often talk about hunger but I think we often really don’t know real hunger. Not having three square meals and three snacks, is not hunger and missing a meal or two is not either. If anything I think we are a bit spoiled and especially when it comes to food.
Our expectations are very high and if we don’t get a meal with “all the trimmings” it’s not good enough. I know that not everyone is like that but I am just talking in general compared to what poorer countries expect.
So when I saw this I was very impressed. Feeding 10.000 plus people every day, no mayhem, no shuffling, or fighting over food, the efficiency that the people show in doing this every day is something we could learn from. It’s pretty amazing.
Here in Atlanta we have the feed the hungry event every holiday, thanksgiving, Christmas etc. It’s great tradition and many people I am sure need the food that is served. I wonder sometimes if it could not be done to be more efficient and actually feed more people maybe even every day. Could it be done in a less polluting way and to be inclusive.
The thousands of plastic plates, knifes and cups that end up in the landfill, the demand that meat is part of the menu adds cost and excludes vegetarian and people of various religions, the tables, the chairs and so on require so much space and that adds cost.
Some day there may be a time of great hunger, real hunger and learning how to cope with less, be more efficient, prepare nutritious meals without meat and make it work is a good thing.
Now let me be clear I am not saying everyone should be forced to be vegetarian. I don’t believe in forcing anything on anyone. I do hope everyone gives it at least a try and keeps and open mind.
But I do think that if meat where left off the menu of large scale feeding events it would be better and more affordable.
I am in my 2nd year of eating vegetarian and I found I eat much better are less hungry, and less food will keep me feeling full longer. I also noticed that my craving for sweets has all but gone.
I can’t explain why but when I ate meat every day, cold cuts and the typical stuff most of us eat, I seemed to be hungry more often. I love to cook and roast, steak, pork chops was all on the menu.
Now I eat much grains, rice, cous-cous , egg less pasta, Quinoa,
One of the world’s true super foods, quinoa is a complete protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids. Quinoa is also a great source of fiber, iron and magnesium. Read more: http://healthycooking.suite101.com/article.cfm/quinoa_recipes#ixzz0Y5DqjSR2
Corn, meat substitutes, made of tofu, grains and spices that make it all taste very wonderful. It really is all in the preparation and using spices and herbs is the secret.
When I first stopped eating meat everyone around me figured, oh yeah that won’t last long. I could tell my their remarks. Now in to my 2nd year some are following suit. One person who has struggled with stomach problems noticed that when he stays off meat his stomach is much better that included no more dairy. If you suffer from stomach ailments, indigestion, try “Silk” Milk and it’s fantastic, better then milk in taste and nutrition. Avoid any dairy and fatty meats at least for a while and see if your stomach isn’t’ better.
I used to have constipation for as long as I can remember. Practically over night within a week of going vegetarian, no dairy either, I have become regular. It’s almost like a miracle. I am not one to share that sort of intimate detail, but I think the discovery is so important that I must share it. I know people that guzzle down Mylanta and take these colorful stomach pills, when the real solution is not to fix the pain/acid but prevent it all in first place. Nutrition and eating behavior causes many ailments. Even just eating less meat can be all the difference.
There is a reason why grains are fed to millions of caddle. Think about it. Grains is practical all they eat. Grains are the true miracle foods. Grains can feed millions. The amount of grain it takes to produce one pound of beef can feed more people that a pound of meat can. Meat is really not an efficient food source. Which is also why when I grew up meat in the form of roast was a once maybe twice a week special condiment. There were cold cuts but all of it was small portions. But even then as a real young child I actually had an aversion to meat,milk eggs, butter too. I hated the taste of it all.
Think about it some of the biggest and strongest animals eat nothing but grains. So the argument that in order to be big strong and healthy you must eat meat is really not substantiated by facts.
Just a little food for thought.
Feeding thousands of people on vegetarian diet, like this story shows they do in India every day is amazing and inspiring.
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