Please visit our new sister site www.sikhsewa.org.uk for more information these initiatives for the homeless and needy.
You can also visit our Facebook Page also at
https://www.facebook.com/SSOManchester/
This page is all about the Sikh Sewa Organisation (Manchester UK) and its feed the homeless initiative #langar4all.
#langar4all serves Langar (hot vegeterian meal) to the homeless and needy in Piccadilly Gardens, Central Manchester every Sunday from 3pm to 6pm.
We also provide Food to day shelters and currently have close links with Cornerstones and Lifeshare, homeless Day Centres. If you are a homeless shelter / day centre please feel free to contact us anytime on info@sikhsewa.org.uk to arrange some free food for the needy.
The purpose of Langar was originally initiated by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (our first Guru). His father gave him some funds to start a business, but instead Guru Nanak decided to spend all the money feeding and clothing the poor. He felt the best service to God was devoted service to mankind.
Older Daya Charitable Events – http://sikhguru.org.uk/category/daya/
The Calendar below shows all the available Sundays for sponsorship of the homeless feed. This can involve just the cost of the provision for the Soup and the Lentils (Daal). Shopping list available upon request.
The Story of Guru Nanak
At last one day the Guru’s father found work for the Guru. He gave him twenty rupees. It was a great sum of money in those days. He asked him to go to some city and do some trading. When we buy things for less money and sell them for more money we call it trade. The Guru agreed. His father was very happy. He thought that Nanak would learn the trade and become a rich man. He would have beautiful clothes, a good house, rich food to eat and a number of servants.
The Guru and his friends Bala and Mardana set out on their journey. They had to travel on foot. They went from village to village. In every village they asked the people to live like brothers. They asked them to think of God and help one another. After a few days they reached a jungle where they saw about twenty good men. They were saints who were praying to God. But almost all of them looked very thin and weak. The Guru and his friends stayed to talk with them. They prayed together and talked a lot. The Guru came to know that all the saints were hungry. They needed food but they had no money. The saints did not ask for food but the Guru did not like to see them hungry.
At once he put his hand in his pocket. He could feel the hard coins. He began to think about the hungry people and about trading.
He thought for some time. He remembered what he had told the villagers to do. “Help all, love all,” he cried in a loud voice. Hie friends looked at him in surprise, but the Guru said, “Dear friends, what other trade can be better than helping these hungry men? Let us go and buy food with this money for our hungry brothers.” So the three friends went back to the nearest town. They bought food and milk. Then they brought it to the jungle and served it to the hungry men. The saints enjoyed the food very much. They thanked the Guru a lot.
Now the Guru had no money in his pocket. He could not trade without money. So he and his friends went back to their village. The Guru’s father was very happy to see his son back. He thought Nanak had made a lot of money by trade. He called him to his side and asked, “Did you do any trade?”
“Yes father, I did the best trade I could,” replied Nanak.
“How much money did you earn?” asked his father.
“Not a penny,” answered the Guru.
His father was very angry and surprised at these words.
“Don’t be a fool. Tell me, what did you do with the money?” said his father, red with anger.
“I spent the money to feed twenty hungry men. What other trade can be better than this, dear father?” said the Guru.
The Guru’s father was so angry that he told off the Guru very hard. The Guru only said, “Father, you don’t know what God wants me to do.” Once again the Guru’s father was left thinking about his son.
“Its is through actions that some come near God And some wander away.”
Guru Nanak
“Words do not a Saint or Sinner make. Action alone is written in the book of fate”
Guru Nanak
Although it was Guru Nanak (our first Guru) that started the concept of Langar, it was our 3rd Guru, Guru Amar Dass who institutionalised Langar to the masses.
Sikhs believe that wealth is only acceptable if it is used for other people such as giving them work or food. It is the responsibility of the rich to look after the poor.
To sum up. Guru Amar Das ji’s words
Blessed is the godly person and the riches they possess because they can be used for charitable purposes and to give happiness.
A place in God’s court can only be attained if we do service to others in this world.
GURU AMAR DAS, GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI 26