Langar Aid and Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS) - the two UK-based Sikh charity groups that dole out free food to the needy and oppressed are among the 250 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the coveted Queen’s award this year.
Langar Aid- an offshoot of the UK-based international NGO called Khalsa Aid International, has been recognized for supporting the vulnerable and promoting equality by following the Sikh tenet of sharing food.
Founded on the principles of selfless service and universal love, the project that aims at fighting hunger worldwide has been providing free food and water to victims of natural disasters, wars and civil conflicts for the last nineteen years.
“As we increasingly witnessed people struggling day to day living below the poverty line, we decided to help those most vulnerable and often homeless in our communities across the UK, Langar Aid was born out of this need”-Ravi Singh, Founder, Khalsa Aid International.
‘Langar’ is a term used to describe the Sikh philosophy of a free community kitchen where food is served to one and all, irrespective of their background, religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or social status.
The deep rooted tradition was initiated by Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith, and later imbibed and honored by all his successors.
Langar or community kitchen at Golden Temple, Amritsar serves a massive number of 50,000 people a day and over 100,000 on weekends and festivals. Source: Cosmin Danila Photography
Ravi Singh with some locals on the Syrian border Source: Photo Khalsa Aid/Langar Aid
Also, following in the footsteps of the Sikh Gurus is the Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS).
The group has been lauded for its exemplary efforts in providing hunger relief, street feeds, and aid in accordance with teachings of Guru Nanak Dev.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest honour given to volunteer charity groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities.
The national honor which was drafted in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee announces the list of winners every year on June 2nd – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
