Ekta New Zealand in collaboration with the Indian High Commission in Wellington, Coexistence and Amma hosted an open kitchen ‘langar’ for the diverse communities of Wellington on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary. 

Ekta New Zealand members along with other parties arranged vegetarian food and served it to the guests, representatives of communities, and the general public at Cenotaph (corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street) on Tuesday, November 12.

“We organised this langar like our Guru, Guru Nanak would have done for the communities- the idea is to service humanity and convey the message of peace and love through this gesture,” Manjit Singh, one of the members of Ekta New Zealand in Wellington said. 

Present at the event were representatives of the Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Ahmadiyya-Muslim, Hindu communities, as well as members from Hindu Council of New Zealand, Maori, Pakeha, Christian, Anglican and Chinese Anglican Churches etc.

Representing the Indian High Commission, Second Secretary at the Indian High Commission, Paramjeet Singh was also present at the event. 

“We hosted a brief prayer session, and our fellow guests from also held a small prayer from their faiths marking the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak,” Manjit Singh added.

Approximately 200 people is said to have turned up to the ‘langar’ held between noon and 2 p.m. today where they interacted with each other promoting and sharing the values of their faiths and celebrating Guru Purab. 

“We had taken event permit from the Wellington City Council and hosted the event as a day of love, brotherhood and peace with everyone in the community- in fact, we invited the general public in the area strolling or working to have langar with the rest of the guests present at the venue- a very important lesson from Guru Nanak,” Mr Singh added. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police and members of Pakistan Association of New Zealand also came to the event and lauded the efforts of Ekta New Zealand.