How does the sound of organic langar sound? The langar, or community kitchen, at the Golden Temple is the world’s largest free kitchen. It is popular for serving food to everyone irrespective of caste, religion or background.
Visitors of the Golden Temple in Amristar will soon be served healthy organic food at the community kitchen. In a landmark decision that is sure to delight environmentalists and pilgrims alike, The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to grow natural organic vegetables and grains at its Sattlani Sahib farms near Amritsar.
This produce shall be used in the Langar at Golden Temple, thereby inspiring farmers who donate a part of their harvest to convert to organic farming as well.
SGPC's Executive Committee met on March 3, 2015 and made this decision to assign 35 acres of land at Sattlani Sahib for organic farming. The produce will be used in cooking langar for almost 100,000 pilgrims who pay homage everyday to the Golden Temple.
The SGPC now grows its own organic vegetables and fruits on 40 acres at Gurdwara Gurusar Satlani Sahib and Patiala.
The Punjab Agro Industries Corportation Limited (PAIC) was instrumental in helping the SGPC to test its soil and suggest options for organic farming. The experts at PAIC also advise them on how to replace pesticides and the use of organic fertilisers. They’ve suggested the use of neem patta, lassi and cow urine, among others.
With states like Sikkim adopting to go completely organic and now the Golden Temple taking this bold step in the same direction, it's not far before India makes a positive impact and a real change in making this world a better place to live in.