What Is Langar? The Free Community Kitchen, Explained

Picture a big hall. Hundreds of people sitting side by side on the floor: a grandmother, a group of college students, a family that just walked in off the street, someone who has not had a warm meal in days. Volunteers walk down the rows with buckets of dal and stacks of rotis. Nobody pays. Nobody is asked who they are.

That is langar. If you have ever been invited to "come eat at the gurdwara," this is what your friend meant.

What to expect if you go for the first time

• Cover your head. Most gurdwaras have scarves at the entrance you can borrow.
• Take off your shoes and wash your hands.
• Sit where people show you, usually on mats on the floor. Chairs are often available if you need one.
• Take only what you will eat. Food is not wasted.
• Say thank you. A simple smile works.

Langar on campus

If your SSA wants to host one, plan for:

• Food safety rules on your campus (many schools require approved vendors or a permit)
• A venue with space for people to sit
• Volunteers for cooking, serving, and cleanup

Our post "Langar Wali Dal for a Campus Crowd" covers the kitchen side.

Why langar matters to Sikh students

For a lot of Sikh students, langar is one of the first things they miss when they leave home for college. It is not only the food. It is the feeling of sitting shoulder to shoulder with people from every walk of life, being served by volunteers, and then taking a turn serving others. Bringing that experience to campus, even once a semester, is one of the most meaningful things an SSA can do, both for Sikh students and for classmates who have never experienced it.

Get involved

• See upcoming SSA and USM events, including community meals near you
• Find your SSA
• Start an SSA if your campus does not have one, and get USM's first-event playbook
• Join the USM newsletter in the site footer