Feeding the masses

Over the Golden Temple’s dancing reflection on Amrit Sarovar, the sacred pool, and beyond the bathing Sikhs and their orange turbans, was an enormous sign that read “Free Kitchen”.

I had heard of this. It was a Langar, a community dining hall found in all Sikh temples. They feed anyone, regardless of religion, caste, age, nationality, color, gender or social status, for absolutely free.

The Gurmukht chanting priests being broadcast out of loudspeakers were delivering me to another world. As I walked barefoot across the cool white marble past men in purple robes holding silver-tipped spears on my left, and bathers lowering themselves into the sacred pool on my right, the aroma of what seemed a hundred spices poured over me. My senses opened.

Outside the hall sat about 80 people in long rows, teary-eyed as they peeled and chopped bucket after bucket after bucket of onions; behind them giant vats of curry were being stirred with oars.

I was given a plate and summoned forward into a patient crowd. When the time came the hall guardian lifted his lance and we filed in and sat in lines crossed-legged on the floor. It didn’t matter who you sat next to. Both sexes had their hair covered, and everyone was barefoot and equal.

Then out they came hauling baskets of bread and buckets of daal and yellow vegetable curry, which they ladled down to us. We sat quietly as it splattered onto our plates. Then all together we ate on the floor with our hands. It was unlike anything I had ever seen.

Afterward we took our dishes to the dishwashers, who banged, clanged, washed and pushed them in carts back to the front of the never-ending line.

This Langar at the Golden Temple feeds around 100,000 people every day. To do this requires an army of volunteers, who donate, prepare, cook and clean the langar for nothing more than compassion.

I’ve read many philosophy and religious books, but only during moments like these am I directly reminded of the potential light of all humanity.