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Sikhism: Celebration and Pilgrimage » Visiting Amritsar: Langar, the Akal Takht and Jallianwala Bagh
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Sikhism (4RS1/2F), 2.2
- What Sikhs do when they visit the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar
- Why langar in the Harmandir Sahib shows Sikh beliefs about equality and service
- The Akal Takht and Jallianwala Bagh, and why Sikhs visit them
- Different Sikh attitudes to visiting Amritsar today
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You have learned that pilgrimage is not a duty for Sikhs, and that the Harmandir Sahib stands in the middle of a holy pool in Amritsar. This lesson looks at what Sikhs actually do when they go there, and at two other places that visitors often see on the same trip.
Visiting the Harmandir Sahib
Every visitor, Sikh or not, follows the same simple customs. They cover their heads, take off their shoes and wash their feet before they go in. Then many visitors do these things:
- Bathing in, or touching, the water of the pool. Some Sikhs bathe in the sarovar (holy pool); others sprinkle a little water on their heads or touch it. As you learned in the last lesson, Sikhs see this as a sign of humility, not a way of being forgiven.
- Walking round the pool. Visitors walk slowly round the edge of the pool, moving clockwise. The walk is called the parikrama. It gives time to be quiet and think about God.
- Crossing the causeway. A narrow walkway joins the edge of the pool to the temple. Crossing it is a moving moment, as the visitor draws near to the Guru Granth Sahib.
- Bowing before the Guru Granth Sahib. Inside, Sikhs bow to the living Guru as a sign of respect and humility.
- Listening to kirtan. Hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib are sung throughout the day, and visitors sit and listen.
- Receiving karah prashad. Visitors are given this sweet food as a blessing from the Guru, as at any gurdwara.
- Doing sewa. Many visitors give time to selfless service, such as helping to clean or to serve food.
Key terms:
- Parikrama: the walk round the holy pool at the Harmandir Sahib.
- Causeway: the walkway that joins the edge of the pool to the temple.
- Langar (recap from Karta Purakh: God the Creator in Sikhism): the free kitchen of a gurdwara, where everyone eats the same food together.
Langar in the Harmandir Sahib
Every gurdwara has a langar, but the one at the Harmandir Sahib is one of the largest free kitchens in the world. It is run by volunteers, and anyone can eat there, whatever their religion, background or wealth.
🤝 What it shows
Everyone sits together on the floor and eats the same food. Rich and poor, young and old, Sikh and non-Sikh all sit side by side. This puts into practice the Sikh belief that all people are equal, and the duty of sewa. Guru Nanak began the practice of sharing food, and Guru Amar Das made sitting and eating together in rows a rule for everyone.
No exact numbers are needed for the exam. What matters is that you can explain how langar shows equality and service.
The Akal Takht
Facing the Harmandir Sahib stands the Akal Takht, meaning "Throne of the Timeless One". (The spec spells it "Akhal Takht"; Akal Takht is the usual spelling.) It was founded by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, who also taught the two swords of spiritual and worldly authority.
- It is the highest seat of authority for the Sikh community. Important questions about Sikh life are considered there.
- It stands opposite the Harmandir Sahib on purpose: the temple stands for spiritual matters and the Akal Takht for matters of the community in the world.
- Each night the Guru Granth Sahib is carried from the Harmandir Sahib to rest at the Akal Takht, and in the morning it is carried back.
The Akal Takht was badly damaged in June 1984 and rebuilt by the Sikh community; many Sikhs remember this with sorrow.
Key term: Akal Takht: the "Throne of the Timeless One", the highest seat of authority for Sikhs, facing the Harmandir Sahib.
Jallianwala Bagh
A short walk from the Harmandir Sahib is Jallianwala Bagh, a walled garden. On Baisakhi in 1919, a peaceful crowd gathered there. Troops under British command fired on the crowd, and hundreds of people were killed. The numbers are disputed.
Today the garden is a memorial. Visitors, Sikh and non-Sikh, walk through it quietly and respectfully. Sikhs visit to remember those who died, and the event is part of the wider history of Punjab.
Different attitudes to visiting Amritsar today
🌟 Very important
Some Sikhs feel that a visit is among the most important experiences of a lifetime. They want to see the places of the Gurus, pray, eat langar and feel part of the whole Sikh family.
💬 Helpful, not essential
Others say that pilgrimage is a blessing, not a duty. The Gurus taught that the true pilgrimage is within, through prayer, honest work and sewa, so a Sikh who never goes to Amritsar is not a lesser Sikh.
Many Sikhs combine both views. They value a visit highly but say that daily devotion matters more. Cost and distance also mean that not every Sikh can go.
Common mistakes
- Saying langar is only for Sikhs. It is open to everyone.
- Saying Sikhs must bathe in the pool to be forgiven. It is a sign of humility, not a requirement.
- Describing Jallianwala Bagh as a Sikh holy place. It is a memorial to people of all backgrounds, visited with respect.
- Describing langar without saying why it matters. Always link it to equality and sewa.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two activities that Sikhs may do when they visit the Harmandir Sahib. [4 marks, Paper 2, AO1]
Model answer (a)
One activity is walking round the holy pool (1), which gives time to think about God quietly (1). A second activity is eating langar (1), where everyone sits together on the floor and eats the same free food, showing equality (1).
(b) Explain why langar in the Harmandir Sahib is important to Sikhs. [6 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]
Model answer (b)
Langar is important because it shows the Sikh belief that everyone is equal. Rich and poor, Sikh and non-Sikh sit together on the floor and eat the same food, so there is no higher or lower person. It is also important because it is sewa. It is run by volunteers who give their time freely, which follows the teaching of the Gurus that Sikhs should serve others without expecting a reward. Langar was begun and encouraged by the Gurus, so eating it connects Sikhs to their history. Finally, it is open to everyone, which shows that Sikhs welcome people of every religion and background.
(c) 'Visiting Amritsar is the most important thing a Sikh can do.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion. [10 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]
Plan for (c)
For: it links Sikhs to the Gurus and Sikh history; the Harmandir Sahib, the Akal Takht and langar show Sikh beliefs in action; worshipping with thousands of others strengthens the sense of belonging. Against: the Gurus taught that the true pilgrimage is within; pilgrimage is a blessing, not a duty; daily prayer, honest work and sewa matter more, and many Sikhs cannot afford to travel. Different views: some Sikhs hope to visit at least once, others say devotion at home is enough. Possible conclusion: the statement is mostly false. A visit can be deeply meaningful, but Sikhs are taught that the most important thing is a life of devotion and service wherever they live.
Exam tip
In an 'Explain why ... is important' question, do not just describe langar. Give a reason (equality, sewa, history, welcome) and say how it connects to a Sikh belief.