Overview
In Sikhism, langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ, meaning 'kitchen') refers to the community kitchen attached to a gurdwara, where meals are served free of charge to all visitors. The institution is open to everyone irrespective of religion, caste, gender, economic status or ethnicity, reflecting the Sikh principle of equality among all human beings.
A defining feature of langar is that those partaking of the meal sit together on the floor and eat as equals. This practice, known as pangat, is intended to dissolve distinctions of social standing and to express the shared dignity of all who gather. The space in which the kitchen operates is referred to as a langarkhana.
The kitchen is run and maintained by volunteers from the Sikh community as part of seva, or selfless service. Volunteers participate in preparing, cooking, serving and cleaning, and the activity is regarded as a devotional offering as well as a contribution to the community. The meals served at a langar are always lacto-vegetarian, so that people of any dietary tradition may partake without hesitation.
Through these practices, langar functions both as a charitable institution providing nourishment to visitors and as an expression of core values within the Sikh tradition, including equality, humility and service.