Guru Nanak Jayanti 2024: Do You Know That Langar Seva Was Started By The First Sikh Guru

Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the important festivals for the Sikh community that presents selfless service. The day celebrated on Kartik Purnima proudly marks the anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. This auspicious day will mark the 555th birth anniversary, honouring his teachings and lifelong message of unity and brotherhood. Guru parv or Prakash Utsav sees devotees gathering at Gurudwara for prayers, Satsang, langar seva (community meals) and recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib. Falling on November 15th, 2024 this year, the day holds great significance for the Sikh community. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism started the langar sewa that not only propagated selfless service to humanity but made sure that nobody would sleep empty stomach. Langar spreads the idea that everyone deserves food irrespective of caste, creed, social status and gender.Also Read:

Origin of the Langar SewaHistory says that the tradition of serving langar started back in 1481 and Nanak challenged the teachings of the caste system and social hierarchies present in the society. The tradition of serving free meals was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the thought stemmed from his belief that all people are equal in the eyes of God. As per the legend, when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was just a 12-year-old boy, his father offered him money to learn the ways of business. However, instead of investing money or trading it, Nanak used it to feed a saint hungry for days. He believed that helping the needy was the truest form of business. This act marked the beginning of the langar tradition, a practice that symbolises the Sikh principle of equality.

During Guru Nanak Jayanti, devotees volunteer and arrange a special langar at Gurudwaras. The teaching of the langar was later continued by Guru Amar Das Ji and additionally, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing community and oneness of all humankind. Another important aspect of Sikhism is Karah prasad. The semolina-based pudding holds great significance in sikh religious ceremonies and daily practices. The prasad holds a symbolic and spiritual significance in Sikhism. Seen as a blessed offering from the Guru, the act of preparing and sharing the halwa fosters unity, selfless service and equality within the Sikh community.Also Read: Role of Langar in SikhismOne of the things that Gurudwaras are famous for is their Langar sewa. The langar is not just any other meal but it carries social, spiritual and cultural significance. Langar is considered an act of social defiance against the caste system. Some of the key elements of Langar include: Seva: One of the important and basic teachings of Sikhism is selfless service to others. For every generation. Sikh people set a huge example for every generation to be generous and treat everyone equally. Equality: The powerful aspect of Langar is that it is available to everyone irrespective of religion, gender, caste, status and wealth. During the Sewa, every individual sits on the flavour and seating arrangement called ‘pangat’ demonstrating that both rich and poor share the same meal.Also Read: Food as a blessing: Food is believed to be the greatest gift from the Guru and the preparation of the food is done with authentic ingredients and divided blessings of the god. The connection between food and guru makes the act more special. Community building: By promoting the spirit of community and collective responsibility, from cleaning the utensils and gurudwara to cooking and serving the langar, these humble acts of Sikhs building shared and mutual purpose.