What does Langar mean in Sikhism?

Guru Amar Das turned it into an institution and ordered that all who came to see him must first eat in Langar “Pahle Pangat, Piche Sangat” Food first, congregation next. The motto was pehle pangat piche sangat- “first sit in a row in the kitchen, then seek the company of the the Guru. The Guru included a common mode of worship and a common social institute by laying the foundation of Sangat and Pangat. Sangat means “association”, it is getting together of noble and good people. Pangat literally means a same row. It stands for people sitting and eating together in the same row in Guru- ka-Langar. From the time of Guru Nanak, Sangat and Pangat have gone together, for the Sikhs, both in percept as well as in practice. Wherever there was a Sangat there also was a Langar, as these Sangats were’ not merely places of worship but also wayside refectories, which gave food and shelter to indigent wayfarers. Even the Emperor Akbar and the Raja of Haripur had to sit on the floor with the common people and take a meal with them. Apart from promoting social equality, the Langar eliminated taboos about chauka- the preparation of food in a special enclosures etc.

Guru Ramdas who ordered that water widened the scope of Langar and meals are also served to travelers and squatters.

Guru Arjan Dev and his wife personally served water to the Sangat. They even massged the weary travelers and fanned them to sleep.

Guru Hargobind ji says: “Garib ka Mooh guru ki golak” (Poor man’s mouth is the Guru’s Coffer)

Guru Gobind Singh Ji says: ” May the kitchen and the Sword prevail in the World”. “Deg Teg Jag maih Dou Chleh!” Deg and Teg are Persian words, meaning the kettle and the sword respectively. Deg literally means a cooking -pot. It symbolically stands for the free kitchen or Langar; whereas Teg is the sword represents dignity and power. Deg to feed the poor and the stanger, regardless of caste and religion; and “Tag” the Sword, to destroy the oppressor of humanity and protect the oppressed. Hence Deg and Teg are symbols of service and power. Many of the Sikhs started their own Langars at Anandpur. One day, Guru Gobind Singh went out incognito on an inspection of Langars. He found out that Bhai Nand Lal maintained the Langar well, while others were indifferent to the needs of poor. He warned them and remarked, “The mouths of the poor are Guru’s receptacles of gifts”.