Langar is the Sikh tradition of serving a free community meal to everyone, regardless of religion, race, gender, nationality, or socioeconomic background. The tradition was established in the late fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhi, and further institutionalized by later Sikh Gurus.

Meals are typically vegetarian, ensuring that people from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds can comfortably share the same food. Visitors are simply asked to observe basic customs of respect, such as removing their shoes and covering their heads while in the gurdwara. One of the defining features of langar is the practice of sitting together in rows on the floor, known as pangat. Regardless of one’s profession, social standing, or wealth, everyone shares the same meal under the same conditions.

Although langar is traditionally served in Sikh places of worship, gurdwaras, the practice has expanded far beyond their walls. Sikh communities around the world regularly organize mobile langars at universities, hospitals, homeless shelters, refugee camps, and during natural disasters. Volunteers have provided meals following earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other humanitarian crises, often serving thousands of people regardless of their faith or identity. At Langar on the Hill, this centuries-old tradition is brought into the heart of civic life, offering members of Congress, congressional staff, faith leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community members the opportunity to gather over a shared meal while learning about Sikh values and fostering meaningful dialogue.

One of the defining features of Langar on the Hill is its emphasis on interfaith engagement. Food has long served as a universal means of bringing communities together. While rooted in Sikh tradition, Langar welcomes people of all faiths and beliefs, creating a space where differences provide opportunities for understanding. By bringing together individuals from diverse religious backgrounds in Washington, D.C., Langar on the Hill demonstrates that common values, such as compassion, service, justice, and human dignity, transcend religious differences. The simple act of eating together invites people to experience shared values through a shared meal.

Modern societies are increasingly religiously and culturally diverse. This diversity offers tremendous opportunities for learning, innovation, and community building, but it also requires intentional efforts to promote understanding and mutual respect. Religious literacy, which is the ability to understand the beliefs, practices, and values of different faith traditions, helps reduce prejudice and misinformation. When individuals have opportunities to interact with people of different faiths in welcoming environments, they are more likely to develop empathy and appreciation for differing perspectives. Langar contributes to this process by creating one of the simplest yet most meaningful forms of dialogue: sharing a meal. Rather than beginning with debates about doctrine or belief, participants first recognize one another as fellow human beings. This foundation often makes deeper conversations about faith, culture, and identity more respectful and productive.

Langar on the Hill demonstrates how the centuries-old Sikh tradition of langar can serve as a meaningful platform for civic engagement and interfaith understanding in the United States. Held annually on Capitol Hill, the event brings together Members of Congress, congressional staff, diplomats, faith leaders, students, nonprofit organizations, and members of the public to share a vegetarian meal and experience the values embodied in langar firsthand.

Langar on the Hill 2026

Langar on the Hill 2026 will take place on July 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building cafeteria. This year’s event is especially significant as Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) celebrates its 30th anniversary in the same year this nation’s marks its 250th anniversary, offering an opportunity to reflect on the vital role faith communities have played — and continue to play — in strengthening American democracy.