Ludhiana: Management committees at major gurdwaras across the city have vowed that the sacred tradition of ‘langar’ will remain uninterrupted during upcoming Baisakhi celebrations, despite a worsening shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across the region.As the city prepares for Khalsa Sajna Diwas, which marks the birth of the Khalsa, religious leaders are deploying a mix of ancient techniques and modern backups — from wood-fired boilers to diesel stoves — to ensure thousands of devotees are fed. The shortage has forced institutions that typically rely on gas cylinders to diversify their fuel sources. Several gurdwaras have already transitioned to steam-based cooking systems powered by wood.Balwinder Singh Lyallpuri of Gurdwara Shaheedan Pheruman said: “Most of our cooking is done using steam generated from wood-fired boilers. Only the ‘degh’ (couldron for cooking sacred pudding and other things) requires LPG, and we have secured enough stock for that. We do not expect any issues during Baisakhi.” At Gurdwara Nanaksar at Samrala Chowk, administrators have stockpiled timber as a primary contingency. “We have arranged wood. If the need arises, langar preparations can be shifted entirely to wood fire,” said committee member Lakhwinder Singh.Menu Adjustments to Save FuelBeyond changing how they cook, some committees are changing what they cook to maximise fuel efficiency. Gurdeep Singh Bajaj, president of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Sarabha Nagar, said his kitchen has moved away from gas-intensive items. They have picked rumali roti over tandoori, as these thinner breads require significantly less heat and time than traditional tandoori or tawa rotis. Moving to simplified dishes, the menus for vegetables (sabzi) and sweets are being streamlined to reduce boiling times. Technicians have been brought in to repair and service diesel stoves as a secondary fail-safe.Community Support and ‘Chardi Kala’The Punjabi spirit of ‘Chardi Kala’ — eternal optimism — is driving a community-wide effort to solve the supply bottleneck. In some residential areas, such as GK Estate, gurdwaras have issued public appeals for devotees to donate spare wood or timber scraps from their homes to keep the community kitchens burning. At Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sabha in Field Ganj, officials confirmed that ‘parshadas’ (rotis) are already being prepared over wood fires to conserve what little LPG remains for other tasks. “Langar has continued through every crisis,” a mamber of the committee said. “With the support of the sangat (congregation), it will continue this time as well.”The Baisakhi SurgeBaisakhi is one of the most significant dates in the Sikh calendar, typically resulting in a massive increase in the volume of meals served in community kitchens. In Ludhiana, gurdwaras like Dukh Niwaran Sahib expect footfall to triple during the festivities, placing an unprecedented strain on fuel infrastructure during the current shortage.
