Dear Editor:
Twenty-five years ago New York City had no Gurdwara, Now there are seven within commuting distance, Years ago there were no cooking facilities in any gurdwara, Langar the community meal was once a month, prepared and brought in by volunteers. Now all gurdwaras boast of modern cooking facilities, and in some langar is served daily.
I just came home from attending one function at a gurdwara which has rightly earned the sobriquet “gurdwara of the neh.’ Their langar is often a gourmet’s de light. There are at least two vegetables and a daal as well as yogurt, salad, rice and chapattis followed by at least one but often two desserts. There is always plenty to cat; enough is wasted to feed many a homeless and needy.
Heaven help us if the function is held at a private home. There is enough to feed an army, the variety and complexity of the spread rivals the offerings at the fanciest restaurant, Often the fangar “is catered by a restaurant. From poorees and gulab jamuns to Coke, only the meat preparations and cocktails arc missing. This gurdwara of the affluent employs a handyman who does most of the scut work, He chops the onions, Starts the cooking of the daal at daybreak, while those who have sponsored the langar are still in bed. Most certainly, he cleans all the pots and pans at the end. And he is handsomely tipped.
The langar is mouthwatering but it becomes expensive. The recommended charge for sponsoring a langar suggested by the gurdwara management makes one think twice before signing up for it, Some days when there is no individual or family to sponsor and the langar is the responsibility of the gurdwara, hardly anyone shows up to cook, clean or serve. The granthi repeatedly requests for volunteers, the response is often reluctant and meager. More important than the amount is the question is this langar? Where is the concept of service in this?
When there is a family sponsored “bhog” at the gurdwara, more often than not there is also a breakfast. Oh boy! What a party. From, dried fruit cashew nuts and almonds to sandwiches and a whole array of mithais.
The ideas behind the institution of the langar were simple. A simple meal affordable by all produced by voluntary service of family and friends, shared by all,
Not all gurdwaras have forgotten what langar should be like; some have rediscovered those principles.
Many a gurdwara in British Columbia positively requires not suggests that the menu for the langar be fixed at simple fare one vegetable, one daal, chappati esorrice. The menu is not negotiable even if the occasion is a wedding or a funeral. If people want a more elaborate menu they are welcome to rent a hall or a restaurant outside but not in the gurdwara. The cost of the langar remains minimal and affordable by most. In these gurdwaras there is never any shortage of people to serve in the langar or to prepare it, unlike in the “gurdwara of the rich,” Occasionally, homeless are fed at some nearby shelter. The families offering Jangar are not competing with each other for the complexity and richness of the menu, nor are they afraid to get their hands dirty.
At the “”gurdwara of the rich” I talked to a few people including the granthi. They all agreed that a simple, fixed menu would be desirable, But who should put an end to the mad cycle of escalation? It would be like saying that you can’t afford it. And that would he social suicide. Would it he brave or socially foolhardy to take the initiative and say “ENOUGH.” Let us” rediscover our roots. Let us reed fine what is service. The fat laden delectable are neither good for us nor true 10 our heritage. Unfortunately, the Sikhs have never been a very modest people; they love 10 show off while sharing the bounties that God and hard work have given them.
Our generation understands the tradition meaning and significance of the langar and decry its misuse. Will the children of those who worship at the “gurdwara of the rich” even know what we are talking about? Will the langar become a catered bash with fast food? Will we employ not just a handyman but also a cook to relieve us of the need to work with our hands? How will we redefine our concept of service? I am sure what I describe occurs in more gurdwaras than one and in more homes than one can count. But can we put a stop to it?
Why do I raise this matter? Because the gurdwara has to take the lead in addressing issues that are vital to the life of our community,
I J.. Singh
Article extracted from this publication >> October 29, 1993
