Guru Ka Langar – The Community Kitchen at Amritsar Golden temple

In the Golden Temple community kitchen an average 75,000 devotees or tourists take langar daily; but the number becomes almost double on special occasions.

On average 100 Quintal Wheat Flour, 25 Quintal Cereals, 10 Quintal Rice, 5000 Ltr Milk, 10 Quintal Sugar, 5 Quintal Pure Ghee is used a day. Nearly 100 LPG Gas Cylinders are used to prepare the meals. 100’s of employees and devotees render their services to the kitchen.

Everyone is welcome to share the Langar; no one is turned away. Each week a family or several families volunteer to provide and prepare the Langar.

All the preparation, the cooking and the washing-up is done by volunteers and or by voluntary helpers (Sewadars).

The community kitchen in the temple shows the Sikh ideal of charity : A Sikh is under a religious obligation to contribute one-tenth of his earnings for the welfare of the community.

He must also contribute the service of his hands whenever he can, service rendered in a langar being the most meritorious.

It has ensured the participation of women and children in a task of service for mankind. Women play an important role in the preparation of meals, and the children help in serving food.

The Community Kitchens gives a great demonstration of equality between sexes and social backgrounds.

I’ll watch over the washing up

All shots with Leica M262 + Summicron 28 or 50. I used a higher ISO for those, the light being a bit random. People in the kitchen are very photo friendly; as long as you are not in anybody’s way you can take your time. But be careful you may be dragged into making some chapatis.

 

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Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur – India

Lake Palace Hotel

The famous Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur, as seen in James Bond’s Octopussy.

Highlights are blown on that one; well that was a very sunny day and the hotel is white; I could not really pull them out. Maybe shall I try to re-scan the film just to try to restore this part and merge different pictures to restore both highlights and the rest of the picture. I’ll have a try soon and post results here.

Camera: Hasselblad 500CM
Lens: 80mm F2.8
Film: Kodak Portra 400
Scanner: Epson v500+Lightroom 3