Langar, or community kitchen, lies at the heart of Sikhism, embodying values of compassion, equality, and service. Meals are prepared and served to all, breaking down barriers and fostering selflessness and a sense of community.
A recent video that has gone viral on social media features a unique twist on traditional langar — banana milkshake. Shared on the Instagram account ‘@amritsarislive,’ the footage shows Sikh men peeling a massive quantity of bananas and carefully placing them on a plate before blending them with fresh milk in a large mixer. The resulting creamy banana milkshake is then poured into sizable containers, ready to be served in small plastic glasses to visitors. The smiles and joyful expressions of those enjoying the refreshing treat indicate that this healthy variation was a resounding success.
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Since its posting, the video has attracted nearly 10 million views in just seven days, impressing viewers across the internet. One user commented, “Itni khubsurat bhandara sirf Sikh hi karta hai (Only Sikhs can organise such a beautiful community meal).” Another user noted, “Punjabia wrga dil kise da ni ho skda (No one can have a heart like the Punjabis).” A third remarked, “Bilkul sahi aes trah da langar healthy aa coke band kro (Absolutely right, this kind of langar is healthy).” Many comments expressed admiration for the Sikh community’s efforts in organizing such langars.
While innovative takes on traditional langar have become popular in viral videos, they often spark discussions. Recently, volunteers who served pizzas at a langar stirred up debate online. While langars are known for their healthy, simple vegetarian meals like dal, roti, and rice, some users were not pleased with the modern twist. One commenter remarked, “Pizza can’t compete with dal phulka,” while another added, “Simple dal roti is Guruji ka langar, so sorry pizza is not langar.”
