Sikh Community of Arizona Serves Langar to 500 people in Downtown Phoenix

Arranged by Gurdwara Sahib, Guru Nanak Dwara of Phoenix, Arizona, the local Sikhs served Langar to five hundred members of Interfaith community on the evening of October 14th, 2010. This was the fifth year that the Phoenix Sikh Community has been performing this Seva for interfaith understanding and in order to disseminate awareness about Sikh faith and Sikh identity. The program was held in Heritage square, downtown Phoenix, at 7th street and Monroe. People belonging to different faiths took part in attending the event. As always, the Langar was prepared and donated free by three Indian restaurants owned by Sikhs members. Those who donated Langar included Harjit Singh Sodhi of Indian Delhi Palace, Sarabjit Singh Pappu of India Oven and Rana Singh Sodhi of Guru Palace. Deliciously prepared, the items included Saag aaloo, Curry, and Naan as well as Salad and bottled water.

Several members from Sikh Community including American Sikhs and Indian Sikhs arrived and were at hand to set up the langar and serve. When the general members started arriving they were requested to take their shoes off. The shoes were kept at the shoe-area specifically cordoned off in accordance with the prevalent traditions in Indian Gurdwaras where Sikh children issued tickets and took care of them. The Americans were then asked to sit in rows or Pangats, if they could, and Langar was served in a traditional Sikh way by Sikh volunteers. Those of who could not do so, tables and chairs were made available for them.

Sikh members have been fairly active in Inter-faith events. It has, in fact, been a tradition for the local Sikhs to serve Langar in this larger gathering of the Phoenix interfaith community once a year. Prior to serving the Langar, the Chairman of Board of Directors of interfaith group informed the general audience about the Sikh faith and their unique tradition of Langar and its significance. Once the Langar had been served, several groups of 6-8 people were formed one member from each faith to talk about their faiths and discuss their similarities. The program finished at 8 PM. Those who joined in truly enjoyed the Langar and learned about Sikh faith, Sikh identity and their unique tradition of Langar. At the end everybody thanked the Sikhs for their selfless service and hoped to have the same event once again come next year.