Langar is the term used for the community kitchen attached to a
Gurdwara. It is also known by the name Guru-ka-Langar. It is an important institution in Sikhism. Food is available to any person visiting the Gurdwara, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
The system of Langar was established by Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion. It was set up with a view to develop a secular fabric by removing the distinction of caste and social status. It conforms to the Sikh tradition of donating to the social cause in the form of money or labor. Any person can volunteer to serve in the Langar. By donating one’s service, a person gets a sense of unity and dignity of labor.
A Langar runs purely on donation. The volunteers, called Sevadars, offer their service by engaging in the cleaning, cooking and serving work. The food is cooked with devotion towards the guru, amidst chanting of hymns. The people sitting together to eat at the Langar, form a congregation termed as Pangat.
