Recession And Food Banks

[SURYADEV]

Many would have heard from news channel about the mushrooming growth of food banks in the UK/Europe.

Whereas two or three years ago there were just a few dozen in the UK, now there are a few hundred and growing fast.

My question is are there any gurdwaras in the UK that have set up a similar system to help feed their local (non-sikh) community?

I would have thought that with the langar system up and running gurdwaras would be at the forefront of helping local communities. But I havn't heard of any gurdwaras taking the initiative here.

[SURYADEV]

Just realised there is a supposed 'maryada' that we cannot take food away from the langar. We can only eat there and then.

So that puts a dampener on people taking food for their families at home.

[dalsingh101]

Just realised there is a supposed 'maryada' that we cannot take food away from the langar. We can only eat there and then.

So that puts a dampener on people taking food for their families at home.

I've taken langar home in yogurt pots - didn't know I was breaking maryada??

What about freshies you take langar to work to save costs?

[SURYADEV]

I've often heard of people doing this in the past - which I believe to be the norm. Even I did this.

But, of late I have been seeing posters around langar halls that actually state it is 'against Sikh Rehat Maryada' to take food away from the langar.

[samosasingh]

Our present day gurdwaras are not really gurdwara's, they are living in the past.

Our langers are not really langers, we are basically only feeding a select community, and not worried about humanity.

If chinese, blacks, goras started coming to the gurdwara langers, they would be eventually kicked out by our pendu pardhans........

[SURYADEV]

True

talk about 'feeding the fed' and 'mutual back slapping'.

Though having said that as a kid I used to see an Arab musalman doing seva at Smethwick GNG.

i know he was an Arab coz used to go to school with his grand daughter.

[jaikaara]

i dont think there is any taboo to taking it home, its usually done here in india..our jatha prepares langar in the guru ghar and we distribute it to the poor and needy in the govenrment run hospital, we do that every thursday.

[SURYADEV]

I know ifs often done in India , but it seems a recent trend in the uk.

I 've seen notices on a few gurdwaras here 'banning' it as its against the 'maryada'.

[jaikaara]

o koi nai ..there is a reason there , there r many who live on langar food sikh and non sikh, kam kaaj kuj karde nai..

[SURYADEV]

Then there are those who a suffering and hungry.

WHy shouldn't a person take food home to an elderly family member who cant make it to the gurdwara.

Should gurdwaras be making such decisions as to who can or cannot eat?

[jaikaara]

baba ji this prob is all over ...let me give you an example , i visited shri hazur sahib for dushera last year , i met my local friends there too. i cam to know that the local sikhs do not regularly have langar there, if a local sikh was seen regularly they would inquire if he had any problems.The sikhs there understand langar is for the yatris who have come from miles across.

the growing populations, adding to people who come for just free food, i m not talking about the needy but those who feel they save on eating in a restaurant because the langar is tasty ! i know a few personally, non sikhs who wont even part with a rupee for the golak but hog on parshaddas and kheer. How long for do u think we can the burden of parasites ? food is also getting costlier.