Organic langar at Golden Temple inspires other gurudwaras to grow chemical-free vegetables

The 100,000 plus pilgrims partaking of langar in the Golden Temple community kitchen round the clock every day, now have organic vegetables on their plate.

SGPC employee preparing organic ‘dal’ at langar hall of Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday. Source: Hindustan Times

"In January, we started serving organic carrot, radish, spinach, and cabbage as part of langar,” said SGPC additional secretary Daljit Bedi, adding: “The purpose is to serve devotees food that is chemical-free.”

The vegetables for the organic langar come from the 7-acre SGPC farm attached with Gurdwara Gurusar Satlani Sahib, where the seed was sown 18 months ago. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, who inaugurated the programme, said all gurdwaras with land should adopt it. The committee has also started growing wheat and fruits at Satlani Sahib for the organic langar.

Chemical-free organic cauliflower being prepared at the langar hall Source: Hindustan Times

It doesn’t fulfil the requirement though, as the shrine gets only a 10-quintal supply every three-to-four days; but the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) plans to increase the volume later by running the programme at gurdwaras that have land to grow organic food.

SGPC farm attached with the Gurdwara Gurusar Satlani Sahib near Attari Source: Hindustan Times

Now that summer vegetables have been sown, the SGPC plan to expand the reach of organic veggies. “Expert advice from Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited will help us get best results,” said Bedi.