Sikh Worship in the Gurdwara
Gurdwara means “doorway of the Guru” (a variant translation is “by means of the Guru’s [grace]”). Any building that contains a copy of the Adi Granth is, technically speaking, a gurdwara, a Sikh house of worship.
There is at least one gurdwara in virtually every village in the Punjab. Most gurdwaras have a characteristic Sikh style, with minarets and chalk-white paint. Aside from the presence of the Adi Granth, which usually sits atop cushions and under a canopy, there are no specific requirements regarding the interior.The gurdwara serves mainly as a place for Sikh men, women, and children to congregate for worship. This they do frequently, on no particular day of the week. Worship usually takes place in the evening, though the early morning is also a popular time. Worship in the gurdwara is preceded by bathing and consists of singing the Gurus’ hymns, reading from the Adi Granth, or telling a story about one of the Gurus. No formal requirements govern the exact nature of worship. It generally ends, though» with a sharing of a special pudding made of wheat flour, sugar, and ghee (clarified butter), known as karah prasad. This act is symbolic of the unity of the Panth.
Volunteers prepare food for the langar meal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Many thousands of people share meals together here daily, at no cost to the visitor.
As we have seen, since the times of Guru Nanak the sharing of food is an important feature of Sikhism. Each gurdwara typically has within it the langar, where Sikhs gather at various times to share in the preparation and consumption of a meal. The food served in the langar is strictly vegetarian; even eggs are not allowed. Again, this sharing of food symbolizes the equality of all. It also provides food for the needy.
Compare Sikhism with other religions with regard to the sharing of food or the practice of communal meals.