In Amritsar, at the kitchen of the famed Golden Temple, there has been a quiet yet very healthy revolution taking place. Those who come to the temple to pray have turned to more healthy food and, in turn, the kitchens of the temple have started serving more organic food in tandem to the demand.
In fact, in a span of less than two years, the organisation’s organic farm has grown significantly in size. The farm, which became functional in 2015, was 7 acres, and today it sits at 13 acres.
Photo source: Wikimedia
The additional secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Daljit Bedi, spoke to the Hindustan Times noting, “Yes, the farm has been expanded to 13 acres as there is more inclination towards organic vegetables these days. The seasonal vegetables are grown there and the same are cooked in the community kitchen. These are served to those partaking the langar.”
The langar in the Sikh tradition is a free communal meal. Every day, approximately 1 lakh pilgrims partake in langar at the Golden Temple.
Given that the farm has significantly grown in size, the organisation has been trying to plant and harvest newer vegetables on a trial basis to see what’s most successful. Currently the kitchen grows onions, carrots, peas and other vegetables that are in season.
Given the popularity of the food and organic vegetables among the pilgrims, the official authorities working for the temple are already mulling over further expanding the farm and also popularising organic farming methods in the process in a bid to spread the message of healthy eating.