Langar (Persian: لنگر) is an institution amongSufiMuslims inSouth Asia whereby food and drink are given to the needy regardless of social or religious background. Its origins inSufism are tied to theChishti Order.
Langar is originally aPersian word, and later came intoUrdu andPunjabi from it, and inBengali aslongor (Bengali:লঙ্গর).[1][2][3]
Langar, the practice and institution, was first started byBaba Farid, a Muslim of theChishtiSufi order.[4][5] The institution of the langar was already popular in the 12th and 13th century amongSufis of theIndian subcontinent. The practice grew and is documented in theJawahir al-Faridi compiled in 1623 CE.[6] It was later, both the institution and term, adopted by Sikhs.[7]
The food is served out of a massive pot called adeg in the precincts of adargah (Sufi shrine).[8][9]
Serving food to the needy has been a rich tradition among Sufis, especially of theChishti Order.[7]
There is extensive use of free food imagery and metaphor in Sufi writings. Sugar and other sweet foods represent the sweetness of piety and community with God, while salt symbolizes purity and incorruptibility. The transformation of the rawwheat to finished bread is used as an analogy for Sufispiritual development.[7]
Sufi ritual observances (dhikr) are concerned with remembrance of God through exaltation and praise. Singing, dancing, and drumming are commonly part of such rituals, as is sharing of food. The tradition of langar was also adopted by the Sikh community, where it goes by thesame name.[7]
Langar is distributed to all in a langar khana (lit. 'Alms-house'). In a largedargah there are twodegs (cauldrons for cooking food) on either side of thesaham chiragh (courtyard lamp) fixed into solid masonry in which a palatable mixture of rice, sugar,ghee (butter) and dried fruits is cooked for distribution to the public astabarruk. The circumference at the edge of the larger cauldron is 3.1 metres (10+1⁄4 ft). It cooks 70 mounds of rice, while the smaller deg takes 28 mounds. In thedergah atAjmer, one of them was presented byEmperor Akbar in 1567 CE. The princes or the well-to-do pilgrims order these degs to be cooked generally during theUrs period.
Bari Deg: Inside the Sahan-e-Chiragh and on the right side of Buland Darwaza is located Bari Deg. Emperor Akbar pledged to visit Ajmer Sharif on foot and presented a large cauldron if victorious in Chittaurgarh battle. So he kept his words after winning the battle. The circumference of the cauldron (Deg) is11.4 metres (12+1⁄2 yd) and 125 mounds of rice can be cooked in it at a time. It was presented inAH 976 (1568/1569 CE).
Chhoti Deg: It is located on the left side of Buland Darwaza inside Sahan-e-Chiragh. It was presented by Sultan Nooruddin Jahangir in AH 1013 (1604/1605). Eighty mounds of rice can be cooked in it at a time.[10]
