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Sikh students provide meals for homeless

News Source: www.edmontonsun.com

A Sikh tradition was brought to the streets of Alberta's inner city yesterday.

Members of the University of Alberta Sikh Students' Society made vegetarian burritos and handed them out at the Boyle Street Co-op and Hope Mission.

"We're just trying to give back to the community and help feed some homeless people," said society member Harman Singh Kandola.

The effort was part of a worldwide campaign across 40 cities put on by the organization Sikhcess. The global Feed the Homeless campaign was held in cities across North America, Asia, Europe and Australia yesterday.

Offering free meals is part of the Sikh tradition of Langar, which translates to "community kitchen," said Kandola.

The free community kitchens embody the idea of community service. Lunches are routinely prepared at Sikh temples, called Gurudwaras, and the meals are open to all members of society.

"It's also to educate the homeless that if they go to a Gurudwara, they're welcome to come in and have food," said Kandola.

The vegetarian burritos were made using East Indian ingredients and were packaged with cookies and juice boxes.

-By Kevin Crush, SUN MEDIA

Ambrosial Invitation by the Saints

“Loh langar tapde rahin." "May the hot plates of the langars remain ever in service.” "We're just trying to give back to the community and help feed some homeless people," said society member Harman Singh Kandola. "It's also to educate the homeless that if they go to a Gurdwara, they're welcome to come in and have food," said Kandola. Possibly the greatest statements on Langer since the instituting of Langer by the beloved Saint, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the proliferation of Langer and practice of such service by subsequent Guru and Saint. There are many holy places and temples where meals are offered and enjoyed. There are many open doors, where those less fortunate cannot find the doorway that is open even to them. The Langer would just be another meal at a temple if it were not for the beloved Saints of Langer getting the word out and meals to the people. University of Alberta Sikh Students' Society should be commended for their service of Langer preparation and distribution as well as their outreach into the mission providing for the homeless. Words sometime pale in comparison to true selfless service and actions. We should thank the Supreme Lord for each and every one of them and their outreach. The outreach and education of the existance of Langer and the divine light of inviting the homeless and those less fortunate into the Gurdwara, reveals the truth of the Supreme Lord and shines like a beacon unto the world. The love of the invitation and the beauty of the lips that uttered the words to the outcast and downtrodden would bring tears to the heart of Saint and Guru. Such outreach and invitation help diminish the blocks that keep them from finding Guru and Gurdwara to begin with, let be the success in life many of us are thankful for. The homeless and downtrodden have been elevated to equals as intended by Guru Ka Langar and the blocks to the gurudwara placed on them by their diminished life shall slip away. As the University of Alberta Sikh Students' Society have invited them into the Gurdwara, we have all invited them into the Gurdwara, for we are one nation, one creation. In Divine Love Wahe, Wahe, Wahe........ Guru, Guru, Guru....... Forevermore

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