In Sikhism, a langar is the community kitchen of a gurdwara, which serves meals to all free of charge, regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. People sit on the floor and eat together, and the kitchen is maintained and serviced by Sikh community volunteers who are doing seva. The meals served at a langar are always lacto-vegetarian.
A community meal in progress at a Sikh langar
Sikh painting showing a langar in the bottom right, c. 19th century.
Volunteers helping preparing food for langar at the Golden Temple
Janamsakhis painting of Guru Nanak's dialogue with Sant Ren feeding the hungry ascetics during the Sacha Sauda episode.
Sikhism, also known as Sikhi, is an Indian religion and philosophy in particular for the Sikh ethnoreligious group that originated in the Punjab region of India around the end of the 15th century CE. The Sikh scriptures are written in the Gurumukhi script particular to Sikhs. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups and among the largest in the world, with about 25–30 million adherents.
Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab, the holiest site of the Sikh religion
Tarn Taran Sahib – The World's Largest Sarovar (sacred pool)
A sketch made in 1844 by Emily Eden of the "Akalees or Immortals". Digitized by the Panjab Digital Library.
An Akali-Nihang Sikh Warrior at Harmandir Sahib, also called the Golden Temple