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Mobile Langar

HARSHLEEN KAUR ANAND

 

 

 






Humanity is the greatest religion that we can practice, and the Sikhs, time and again, set some stellar examples, proving the fact that you don’t need big charity functions, or a large reserve of money to help your fellow human. A loving heart and care is all that you need.

Langar is the epitome of seva -- selfless, unconditional public service.

Sikhs have a reputation of extending a helping hand whenever it is required. Be it hosting an Iftaar for Muslims in Lucknow, or offering food to the needy in disaster zones, they have always put the act of humanity above anything else.

Atul Khatri, a stand-up comedian from Mumbai shared the following post on his Facebook that is beyond heart warming:

“I saw this cart outside Amritsar Airport departure lounge yesterday. I was initially surprised to see a 'hawker' inside a security zone.

“But when I asked them what it was - it turned out to be a "mobile langar" from a nearby Gurdwara! They go around feeding free food to security people, taxi drivers and anyone else who is hungry. First time I have seen this.

“God bless the Sikh Community!”

 
He spotted a mobile langar cart at the Amritsar airport. He initially thought the man was a ‘hawker’ and was actually surprised by his presence at the airport, but when he went to him, the man explained that he was from a nearby gurdwara and was offering food to anyone and everyone who might be hungry. 

A simple act can stir such strong emotions. Contrary to rumours, humanity is not dead. It just needs to be revived and people like such Sikhs around the world are the ones to do it.


[Courtesy: MensXP. Edited for sikhchic.com]
October 25, 2016
 

Conversation about this article

1: Tinku (Punjab), October 25, 2016, 6:38 PM.

I think we have lost sight of the original purpose of langar. Nowadays 99% of the time people are being fed from this practice who don't really need it. In gurdwaras around the world, langar halls are now places for gossip. People tend to spend all their time in langar hall instead of listening to gurbani. We need to rethink the practice through. One should ask who are the people at the airport who would need langar? Can this money we well spent on other issues affecting the community at large.

2: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), October 25, 2016, 11:01 PM.

Guru Nanak's investment of Rs. 20/- in his famous 'Sacha Sauda' is still in business that has no equal. There is a saying that no one goes to sleep hungry in Amritsar. An average of 100,000 people are fed daily with loving devotion irrespective of religion, caste, creed or colour or social status status. During Guru Har Rai Sahib`s Guruship Sikhs were sent out to ensure that there was not a single soul going to sleep hungry. Do you have any such example elsewhere to compare such richness and devotion ...

3: Ajit Singh Batra (Pennsville, New Jersey, USA), October 26, 2016, 6:45 AM.

Our Gurus made service to humanity part of daily worship. And that is what we have when we conduct langars in our gurdwaras. Gurdwaras in fact act as laboratories where service is actually practiced as a matter of daily routine, to prepare the Sadh Sangat for the service of whole mankind. Sikhism is known for expressing itself in true humanism.

4: Harinder Singh (Punjab), October 27, 2016, 10:57 PM.

Langar needs to move out from the comforts of gurdwaras and go to the public space and feed every hungry person all over the world.

5: Kulvinder Jit Kaur (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada), November 04, 2016, 8:12 AM.

Agree totally with #1 and #4. This kind of "Mobile Langar" would be even more praiseworthy if langar from all the Delhi Gurdwaras was transported to the survivors of Trilokpuri and Mongolpuri massacres. They can still start it now as even today these families are struggling to make ends meet. Serving free Langar in an airport lounge is bizarre. People in an airport lounge are the ones that need it the least. Ridiculous.

6: Narinder Sharma (Panchkula, India), November 07, 2016, 12:07 AM.

In line with #1 and #4 and #5, the sevadars at PGI hospital, Chandigarh, Punjab, epitomize the spirit you are looking for, as they serve langar to the family members of poor people who come seeking government medical care.

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