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Every year almost 10-day in advance, the Gurudwara Sadh Sangat in Vizag clads a festive look. In 2022, for the city's Sikh community, the celebration for Guru NanakDev Ji's 553rd Birthday or Gurpurab started on October 30 with the grand Nagar Kirtan or Holy Procession. On the eve of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth anniversary, I got the fortunate opportunity to observe the festivities closely. Known for their hospitality, I experienced it first-hand with a warm welcome by Sardar Dilshah Singh Anand (Shahji), President Gurudwara Sadh Sangat. And subsequent, narratives and visuals humbled me. It was a true testament to following what the founder Sikh religion preached to spread the message of peace and communal harmony.
Gurudwara Sadh Sangat
People from across religious beliefs and communities thronged here to perform Seva (service) out of their free will. In one corner, women in separate groups were busy kneading, dusting the wheat balls with atta and another group rolling them in perfect synchronicity. A batch of men, including a child, took the next phase of cooking flatbreads or rotis.
Dough kneading and roti preparation in progress
"We have been doing it for the past 10 years. Apart from these three days during Guru Nanak Jayanti, on regular days, especially every Sunday, we gather here in the dawn for Seva to help prepare the langar," gleefully shared the women.
I was informed that the continuous rendition of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji has begun on Sunday, 6.11.2022 and will continue till midnight of Tuesday, 08.11.2022. The langar is ongoing for 3 days. On today, i.e., November 8, the Kirtan Prayers started at 10.30 hrs and will continue till 13.30 hrs, followed by Guru Da Langar (lunch).
The grand langar on Guru Nanak Jayanti, 2022
There has been an elaborate menu for today, i.e., 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Ji. "Today, before the afternoon langar, we have live counters of mixed vegetable pakodi or fritters, jalebi and chai. The lunchtime langar has roti, rice, matar paneer, ma ki daal, chole, rice kheer, prasad and kulfi," informed Gurpreet Singh Gill, Treasurer and Langar In-Charge.
Langar at Gurudwara Sadh Sangat
For the lunchtime langar meal, the Gurdwara is preparing around 8000 rotis anticipating about 2000-3000 devotees. The food preparation starts at 3.30am, and about 150 people participate in different seva. The Guru Da langar will start from 13.30 hours and from 20.00 hours to 21.00 hours in the evening.
Jalebi and pakode
In the late evening, a sweet counter will serve gulab jamun, chum chum, soan papdi, rasgulla, matthri, and Kesari doodh. The celebration will continue till midnight. And it will end with Guru Da Cha Langar and sweets.
Food service on any regular day
"On any given day, we serve around 150-200 people langar. Those days the menu is minimal. Whoever comes here doesn't leave on an empty stomach," shared D. S. Anand, PRO, Gurudwara Sadh Sangat.
Little-known food service facts
Most people are aware of every Sunday langar lunch in Gurudwara Sadh Sangat. But apart from Sunday, it serves people every day. From morning tea available as early as 6.00 am to breakfast (usually alu paratha, upma, dosa, idli), lunch, and evening tea to a langar at dinner, there is always food freshly prepared to feed any devotee free of cost. Anyone from any religious belief can come and serve and eat, no question asked.
Kada Prasad speciality
Kada Prasad, Image Source: Instagram
The first thing that comes to our mind is Kada Prasad in Gurudwara. It is served at the sacred sanatorium and throughout the day. It is said that receiving Kada prashad denotes getting Guru's loving blessings. Therefore, one should always accept it.
For Gurudwara Sadh Sangat, a special cook team was trained at the Golden Temple Amritsar India (Sri Harmandir Sahib Amritsar). The recipe of Kada Prasad is simple and consists of an equal proportion of ghee, sugar and whole wheat flour and double the amount of water. The preparation of this prasad involves intense dedication and nonstop hymn chanting. It infuses a divine taste and energy into it. Chanting the five baanis while making Karah prasad is crucial because they provide the halwa with a subtle spiritual and devotional touch that transforms it into the prasad.
Food preparation routine
The preparation on any given day starts at 4.00 am in the morning. Around 50-100 women from across the communities come here to knead the dough for the flatbreads. Another batch rolls them, the next group cooks them, and the last team smears them with ghee.
Working in unison
Likewise, the vegetable chopping and cooking the other dishes are divided among them. The kitchen is open to all. Men, women and children take up responsibilities on a shared understanding. Thus, one can notice even kids roasting the rotis or peeling vegetables along with the elders.
Roti making seva at Gurudwara Sadh Sangat
Food rules
One has to keep their head covered throughout their stay within the Gurudwara premises. It applies to all genders. Likewise, while eating, no one is allowed to waste food. Hence, be judicious about how much you can eat.
Philanthropic services
During the pandemic outbreak, this Gurudwara fed 1000 people at shelter homes every day for four months, following the guidelines of GVMC and the District Collector.
Food preparation in progress
Gurudwara Sadh Sangat
The existing Gurudwara Sadh Sangat located at Seethammadhara was established in 1981. There are only 70-80 families who are members of this Gurudwara. But there has never been a crunch of manpower or grocery to serve the devotees. There are six rooms open for any yatri or traveller who can stay for free and be fed with three meals for the day. Every day there are around 50-100 such people. The regular Sunday lunch langar witnesses a footfall of 500 devotees, and no caste, religion or creed restriction exists.
So, when are you visiting this pious place?
