The Future Of Guru Ka Langar

[Akaali]

>Vaheguroo ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguroo ji kee Fateh!

>

>I’m writing this email to share my concern to the sangat about the future

>of Gur-ka Langar in Gurdware Sahib…

>

>Whilst at the Gurdwara Sahib a few days ago I heard my mum talking to an

>auntie about the lack of knowledge the next generation had when it came to

>cooking. (I know by this point you’re probably thinking I’ve lost the plot

>if you didn’t think so already, but please continue reading...)

>At the time my mum said this, I actually felt quite angered and hankaari in

>thinking I could handle the seva and that if they weren’t here Gur-ka

>langar would not come to an end. Mum carried on her discussion with auntie

>ji predicting what would be the future outcome if our generation didn’t

>start learning and participating soon. The ideas they were coming up with

>surprised me and at the time and seemed quite improbable, as the

>suggestions consisted of plans such as, in the future, Gurdware would need

>to have “halvai” (chefs) from India to do the cooking. Who probably

>wouldn’t be amritdhari or following rehat. As Gurdware committees these

>days (no offence) wouldn’t see this as being wrong or beadbi.

>

>Eventhough at Harmandir Sahib there is a notice that clearly states:

>"SEVA OF THE PREPARATION OF LANGAR TO BE DONE BY THE AMRITDHARI SIKHS - MEN

>AND WOMEN. NON-AMRITDHARIS MAY DO THE SEVA OF CLEANING OF UTENSILS,

>KITCHEN, HALL, ETC."

>

>Futhermore:

>The Rehitnama Hazooree by Chaupa Singh says "Guru kaa Sikh...apany langar

>rasoee vich Sikh rakhey. Hukaie, Topeeaa, Bhaadnee, chor, yaar, jooaybaaz,

>kurehiteeyaa na rakhai" meaining "A Guru ka Sikh...should keep only a Sikh

>in his langar and kitchen. Smokers, hat-wearers, shaven people, theieves,

>gamblers, kurehitees should not be kept" (Padam, 85).

>

>(An extract taken from one of Various Puraatan rehitnamas)

>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmericanSikhs/message/4663

>

>After actually sitting down and thinking about what had been said it made

>me think that what had been said might not actually be far from reality! I

>mean on going to the Gurdwara Sahib it’s quite shocking to see how when

>some young people are given a seva of something simple like cutting or

>peeling sabhji for instance they can’t do it properly. And this is just

>basic beginners food preparation never mind the actual cooking of the

>sabhji or how it should be gone about.

>And this is just one aspect of cooking, the sabhji. What about parsaad?

>parsaadeh? Dhal? Mitha? Dhey?

>Even for those of us who believe that langar should be kept simple. Even to

>prepare simple langar some knowledge of how it should be done is required.

>Yes langar needs to be prepared with piyaar and sharda but it also needs to

>be made properly, and the only way this can be done is if we have the prior

>knowledge and experience of how it should be done. The rest is Guru Jis

>kirpa.

>

>qU krx kwrx smrQu hih krqy mY quJ ibnu Avru n koeI ]

>thoo karan kaaran samarathh hehi karathae mai thujh bin avar n koee ||

>You are the Creator, all-powerful, able to do anything. Without You, there

>is no other at all

>

>

>In my opinion we need more youth to be getting involved and learning about

>the preparation of langar but also the hygiene in the kitchen, as it seems

>to me that at every Gurdwara Sahib the older generation are dominating the

>langar de seva; which is brilliant for them, Guru Ji’s kirpa but not so

>great for us as we’re not seeing the necessity for us to learn as aren’t

>consider what will happen in the future if we don’t start acting now. The

>older generation has a lot of knowledge we could use which could help us in

>sustaining Gur ka langar for the future, and for generations to come.

>

>Now think about what we would do if something did happen to the older

>generation… Or if we we’re in control of the seva… Could you make the

>parsaadh? Or any part of the langar?

>What would we do?!

>It’s a sorry fact sangat ji but we are not as “tiyaar bar tiyaar” as we’d

>like to think we were, as this one situation has shown.

>Another point to consider is that from what I have seen it is more our

>generation that is pushing the idea of bibeki langar. This could be

>achievable with Guru Ji’s kirpa if more youth were actually getting

>involved instead of just criticizing how langar is prepared. I’ve heard

>many times people including myself say that people should be reciting baani

>whilst preparing langar and nindhiya, chuglee is a big no no etc.

>

>But then if we believe this is how langar should be prepared why aren’t we

>actively doing something about it instead of just complaining about how

>things are presently done?

>Some people just boycott langar altogether if they don’t believe it has

>been made by rehatdhari people, or in the right environment, but surely if

>we are willing to go this far ourselves in believing its wrong for us to

>eat, then why are we letting it be bhogged by Guru Maharaaj? The king of

>Kings?! Surely this is a wrong doing on out part. And we should be trying

>as hard as possible to change this as soon as possible.

>

>The future of Gur ka Langar lies in our hands; it’s up to us what we are

>going to do. Don’t forget the seva aspect of sikhi! Seva is an important

>part of Sikhi. as is the foundation for love and removes pride. We need two

>wings to get us across this World ocean, one of simran and the other of

>seva.

>

>Please forward this message to other people who can work on making a

>difference to the future of sikhi. Thank you.

>Bhul chuk maaf.

>

>Vaheguroo ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguroo ji kee Fateh

[OhTwadi]

fyi, chaupa singh rehitnama is not considered authentic from what i know :lol: it's been tampered with bigtime !!!

[lowest of the low singhni]

It would be cool if we had classes at the Gurdwara Sahib to teach us how to prepare langar properly.

[wjkk wjkf]

Do what I do...When mum or gran is cooking, stand in the kitchen and watch how they do things, help with preparation and stuff (write it down if you have to)...then once you think you got the idea, have a go yourself, practice makes perfect.

[lowest of the low singhni]

: ) I should have added to my post above.

Is it just me or does the langar kitchen seem a lot different to the home kitchen? I always get dazed by the size of the pots (and number of auntiaan).

[singh1986]

: ) I should have added to my post above.

Is it just me or does the langar kitchen seem a lot different to the home kitchen? I always get dazed by the size of the pots (and number of auntiaan).

:lol: Yeah its true, I can cook Sabji and everything at home but I never know how much Haldi or masala to put in those big pots, I suppose I need to practice in the Gurdwara Kitchen but all the bibya just stare at you like I have no buisness being in there.

Also another point, Is it me or are duties in the Kitchen Gender related?! or something? cos Im always the only guy making rotiya and actually in the Kitchen sometimes, Ive kinda become consious of it recently...whilst the guys do washing and giving out Langar; sometimes they do sabji cooking though non do rotiya

But yeah I suggest people just to help out at home and Gurdwara and just watch and learn... I also think its important guys put more effort into getting into the Kitchen cos all women are taking over, and we all know guys cook better.

[OhTwadi]

guys don't usually do rotia cause the tava is fully taken over by bibia

[s_kaur!]

Vaheguru jee kaa khalsa Vaheguru jee kee fateh

yup yup lol

ermm at gurdwara we have 'cooking classes' ... was started by a penjee to get the bibia learning!

we nearly at the end :lol: also this is to prepare bibia to cook, this will help the next generation to be helpin with makin the langar at gurughar... and more classes will be held again after december, get more sangat that want to learn.

We have learnt alot of things such as the beginners got to learn shabji and dhala and advanced learn more advanced thing e.g. matheaa, besan, saag etc mmmm

one good way is go to the gurughar and help out with makin the langar seva, dont feel shy ! the youth needs to get involved when it comes to langar seva

we even have 3 boys coming every week to learn

Get elder bibia help to begin something like this at your local gurdwara :TH:

Vahguru jee kaa khalsa Vaheguru jee kee fateh

[curious_man]

simple langar is best!!!... no need of heavy tarkhas and strong masalay!!

and all those snacks like mithai.. samose.. coke/pepsi!!

come on its not a dhaba!!

guru ka langar is simple yet most lavish... becoz it feeds ure soul too with guru kirpa!!

[GurpreetKaur]

Fateh ji

The aunties at the gurdwara dont trust me to do anything other than chorpar the rotia. I suppose its something though!

VJKK VJKF