Langar On Wheels: Gurdwaras In Delhi Provide Food During COVID-19 Crisis

“We promise Delhi, no one would sleep empty stomach. We have flagged off 14 new vehicles today to distribute Langar to the needy and helpless in different parts of Delhi”, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee had tweeted on June 1. In a video message, Mr Sirsa had clarified that with the start of unlock 1.0, government and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have stopped relief feeding initiated during Coronavirus lockdown. But to ensure no one goes hungry in the national capital Delhi while we fight the Coronavirus pandemic, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) initiated ‘Langar on Wheels', taking langar or community kitchen in Gurdwara beyond the walls of the religious place.

Trucks with food from Gurdwaras in Delhi go to different locations and provide meals to thousands of people for free. The food truck parks itself at a particular location and people queue up to get a meal. Showing gratitude to the Sikh community for their relentless service, a beneficiary said,

It is a good experience and a systematic way of distributing food. They have been doing sewa for many years and we believe they will continue the same sewa in the future as well.

Talking about how the Langar on Wheels is like a beacon of hope for daily wagers who have been out of work due to COVID-19 pandemic, another beneficiary said,

Daily wagers do not have regular work so they come here for the food. They are all very grateful for this langar because of which at least they are saved from hunger.

Langar on Wheels is favourable for people who cannot make it to a Gurdwara or don't have one nearby. Also, in the fight against the COVID-19, one of the tools is social distancing which is not feasible inside the Gurdwara hence Langar on Wheels serves the purpose. Talking more about the initiative, Harmeet Singh Kalka, General Secretary, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee said,

Langar on Wheels is not a concept, it has become the demand of the times. Langar is usually inside the hall of a Gurdwara but people can't get to the Gurdwara, and also want to maintain social distancing. And we have limited space for the huge numbers we want to feed. So it became our demand that the langar should reach people. These people eating langar here are helpless. It would feel wrong to call it a good response, but our Gurdwara staff is satisfied that the sewa we do is reaching those who need it. This was all possible because of the influence of sangat.

Keeping up with its tradition of serving people in need, DSGMC plans to continue Langar on Wheels.