Visiting kitchens, watching how the food is made, enjoying being at such an interesting place People was kind and explain quite well about the food, also they invited me to help to made bread ( chapatis)

1. Kitchen, food & people Golden Temple Amritsar

2. Indeed few places in India demostrate so clearly the country genious for diversity & tolerance, the twin reasons that explains why India has remained one nation When the Murghal emperor Akbar offers to give Guru Amar Das a platter of gold coins to support the kitchen, he refused saying “ The kitchen is always run with the blesing of the almighty” Guru Amar Das created the community kitchen during his time, in the 16 century

3. Here, about 35.000 people a day are fed for free by people volunters

4. Everyone is invited to join the making of bread Visitors must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke at the temple

5. The groaning, clattering machines never stop, transforming every day12 tons of whole wheat flour into nearly a quarter-million discs of flat-bread called roti

9. The roti is roll flat and send down to a gas fired conveyor belt

10. It spitt out a never-ending stream of hot, floppy, perfectly round bread

13. Langar is a free santified meal which is prepared daily and served at the temple

14. Volunteering and community support are expresed in the Langar These two men are talking in a relaxed way, waiting for their work to begin

15. Soup lentils, three and a third tons of them bubble away in big cauldrons, stirred by bearded , barefoot men

17. The pungent, savory smell comes from 1.700 pounds of onions and 132 of garlic, sprinkled with 330 pounds of fiery red chillies

20. Later I was told that these day I was the only oxidental to visit the kitchens

21. Thousands of volunteers have scrubbed the floors, chopped onions, shelled peas and peeled garlic

23. It s lunchtime at what may be the world ‘ largest eatery, the langar, or community kitchen at the Golden Temple

24. Once the lunch is over, plates and bowls must be returned It s done in perfect order

25. At least 40.000 metal plates, bowls and spoons have been washed, stacked and are ready to go

29. By Maria [email_address] “ This is our tradition”, said Harpinder Singh, the manager of this huge operation, “ anyone who wants can come and eat” August 29, 2010 Amritsar Journal Music: G uru nanak dev ji Performed by R avi A thwa l Guru Amar Das