Brunel students share food in Sikh New Year celebrations

Sikh students at Brunel University London have shared free meals as part of a Langar offering, in which everyone regardless of faith is offered food.

The tradition is part of the celebration of the Sikh New Year and is offered by every Gurdwara in the world.

The community kitchen provided hot vegetarian dishes to 200 people.

Guests were given a head covering and sat on the floor to eat together, which represents equality and the building of community, organisers said.

Canadian student Sreeja Jonnalagadda said it had been difficult to find a Hindu community but says "the Sikh community is so inclusive and uplifting".

"To sit on the carpet, look at each other and eat together and share a meal was so comforting.

"We are going through exam season so this is going to help me get through the day. Seeing the smiles and receiving the food is so fulfilling."

Vice president of the university Sikh society, Sharanveer Singh, said: "Today Sikhs all over the world celebrate Chet, the Sikh New Year, often mistaken as Vaisakhi.

"We have a universal calendar called Nanakshahi and it starts with the month of Chet. The epoch of this calendar is the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji 1469."

Prof Royona Mitra, the university's associate pro vice-chancellor for equality, diversity and inclusion, said: "This is a momentous occasion for Brunel University London to be marking the 20th anniversary of our first Langar on campus."

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