LEICESTER, UK—On Tuesday, April 29, 2014, staff and learners from all backgrounds at Leicester College came together to take part in a very special Sikh lunch. Staff and volunteers at the college served 500 hungry people – for free.
The food was kindly and generously donated by the Guru Tegh Bahahdur Gurdwara, Sikh Temple in Leicester. The ‘Langar on Campus’, a Punjabi word meaning community kitchen, was been organzsed by Leicester College’s Learner Engagement and Enrichment (LEET) Multi-faith Chaplaincy team.
This is the third time it has been hosted by Leicester College. The vegetarian lunch is aimed at promoting selfless service, equality, and humanity, and is part of the Sikh celebrations to mark the festival of Vaisakhi.
Sharen Ravat, Multi Faith Chaplaincy Co-ordinator at Leicester College said, “Learners and staff from all backgrounds came together to take part in this very special Sikh lunch. People followed the Sikh traditions of hand washing, covering their heads, not wearing shoes, and sitting on the floor together to eat, the way it is done in the temple [dining hall of a gurdwara, the Sikh place worship]. The event witnesses humanity at its, as people share food whilst building friendships and rapport with one another. It is one of the highlights of the college year, and something we are very proud of.”
