Golden Temple in Amritsar, India
India is one of my favourites places to visit. India has colour, life, spirituality, excellent food, and wonderful people. It is also a place where I have been deeply touched in my heart and soul....
I don't know if it happened to you that in some places you cry, but you don't know the reason.....As soon as I enter into the Golden Temple, I cried......and I didn't know why.....It was one of the most pure, holy, and blessed places that I have been.....
Nanaksar Gurwara in Edmonton
The Golden Temple, as well as other Sikh Temples (Gurdwaras), are open to everybody regardless their gender, colour, religion, or ethnicity. The only rules are removing shoes and washing one's feet, along with covering ones's head (both as a sign of respect), and not consuming alcohol, meat, or cigarettes while in the temple. In the Golden Temple there is a non-stop chant from a Sikh holy book that creates an environment very sacred.
Nevertheless, what impressed me the most is that in every Gurdwara they not only provide food for your soul, but also for your body. Langar is the kitchen where free food is provided in every Sikh temple. It exists since the 16th century, and provides free food 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to about 80,000 people daily (it is the largest free eatery in the world!). The idea is to enhance the principle of equality among all people regardless their religion, gender, social status, ethnicity, or age. It also promotes the ideas of sharing, community, and that God welcomes everybody. ......In a Sikh Temple not only everybody is welcome, but also nobody leaves the temple hungry.....
Langar in Nanaksar
Usually the food is prepared by volunteers, and I remember that I saw very wealthy people preparing the food in the Golden Temple....it is an honour and a duty to prepare food for others.....
The food is simple, but delicious....everybody sits together and eats the food in peace.....is one of the most precious moments that we ever had in a trip.....sharing simple food with strangers that were always smiling to us and asking whether we need something else......everybody is equally important in a Langar....and that meal made us feel spiritual blessed....
Also, inside the temple, while we have been praying we have received Karah Parshad that is a kind of sweet semolina blessed by the Guru, and nuts.....they are a sign of hospitality......
Karah Parshad
In every city that we have lived where a Gurdwara exists, we have not only visited the temple, but also we have eaten in its Langar....we like to feel that through that simple food we are nurturing not only our body, but also our souls.....
The main celebration that our Sikh friends have is Vaisakhi. Also, we have participated in every Vaisakhi that we have could. In the majority of the cities, Vaisakhi was celebrated on April 13th, 2011. In the city where we live it was also celebrated that day; however, the Vaisakhi Parade (which is part of this celebration) will be celebrated on May, 23rd, 2011. We will be celebrating Vaisakhi with our friends that day....
To celebrate this occasion, during this week I will be posting only Indian food......
In the meantime, I would like to share with you some of the Indian sweets that we bought to start this celebration.....ENJOY!!
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