INDIA: Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is a revered Sikh shrine in Delhi. 

Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru, stayed here in the 17th century. 

During a smallpox and cholera epidemic, he provided water and aid to the suffering.

Eventually he succumbed to the illness himself. 

Today, the gurdwara stands as a symbol of selfless service and compassion. 

 

The temple has a white marble façade and golden dome and intricately carved arches that symbolize purity and spiritual grandeur. 

Inside the complex is a Sarovar (Holy Pond), a peaceful body of water where visitors can sit and meditate.

Or immerse themselves. 

Free meals are served here to everyone, regardless of religion, caste, or background. The langar (kitchen) operates round the clock, ensuring no one goes hungry.

The meals, usually consisting of dal (lentils), roti (bread), rice, and vegetables, are prepared by volunteers and served in a communal hall. Thousands of people eat here every day. 

 

 

There is no stigma to getting a free meal.

Anyone can participate in sewa (selfless service) by volunteering to cook, serve food, or clean.

 Because of kitchen's like these, in the late 19th century when Swami Vivekananda was visiting the United States and was asked about hunger in India, he said:

"I never knew what hunger was until I came to America".