154234

Why is India’s Golden Temple known as the world’s largest free canteen?

The Golden Temple is located in the Indian border city of Amritsar, which means “nectar pond”. Amritsar is a holy place for Sikhism. At that time, Sikhism, which was only a branch of Hindu Reformation, finally developed into a completely independent religion in the 16th century after the unremitting efforts of several generations of believers. The pool, named “Nectar Pond”, from which Amritsar got its name.

The Golden Temple was built in 1589 by Arjun, the fifth-generation Sikh patriarch, and completed in 1601. The Golden Temple is built around the “Niktar” pool. The water in the pool is regarded as holy water by the Sikhs. Sikhs who come here for pilgrimage must bathe here and wash their souls with holy water. The main building of the Golden Temple is built in the center of the pool. The golden appearance and exquisite appearance of the building appear resplendent under the reflection of water and light.

The Golden Temple was founded by the fifth-generation Sikh master Arjun in the 15th century. It has been looted and rebuilt several times. When it was rebuilt in 1830, 100 kilograms of gold was used to make the surface dazzling, so it was commonly known as the Golden Temple.

A holy place of Sikhism, Amritsar means “Pond of Nectar”. At that time, Sikhism, which was only a branch of Hindu Reformation, finally developed into a completely independent religion in the 16th century after the unremitting efforts of several generations of believers. The pool, named “Nectar Pond”, from which Amritsar got its name.

The Golden Temple was built in 1589 under the auspices of Arjun, the fifth-generation patriarch of Sikhism, and completed in 1601. It has a history of 400 years. Because the gate of the temple and the 19 circular temple roofs of different sizes are covered with gold foil, they are extremely dazzling under the sunlight, and have always been respected by the Sikhs as the “Palace of God”.

The famous “Amritsar Massacre” happened here. On April 13, 1919, more than 20,000 people held a protest rally in Amritsar, Punjab, which was bloody massacred by the British garrison. Hundreds of people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured. This tragic incident made the anti-British struggle of the Indian people rise rapidly.

The Golden Temple is located in the middle of the artificially excavated holy lake with an area of ​​1,500 square meters. A 60-meter-long trestle bridge leads to the center. The calm lake reflects the temple on the water surface, adding to the special charm of the temple. The building of the Golden Temple is a fusion of Hinduism and Islam, with a circular dome and round towers around it.

The upper three-quarters of the Golden Temple is plated with gold, and under the rays of the sun, it looks resplendent and graceful. In the reflection pool, the sparkling waves make the Golden Temple more dignified and graceful. The castle-style gatehouse of the Golden Temple has a white bell tower and five golden domes in the shape of a plum blossom. Looking up, the atmosphere is magnificent, and the splendor of gold and blue fills the entire field of vision.

The Golden Temple, with a total area of ​​about 10 hectares, has a rectangular interior with an artificial lake in the center. The lake is surrounded by black and white marbles more than ten meters wide. The temple stands majestically in the middle of the lake, and the “House of God” is in front of you.

The top of the temple is a large golden dome, and there is a small golden dome on each corner. It is like four golden armored warriors guarding the majestic emperor wearing a golden crown. The whole body is plated with more than 100 kilograms of gold. Some people also say that the shape of the temple is more like an upside-down lotus flower. The lotus flower is inserted backwards in the lake water and goes straight to the earth, which shows that Sikhism cares about the suffering of the world.

The Golden Temple provides free food to around 80,000 people 24 hours a day , and the number doubles during the festival. Therefore, it is also known as the world’s largest free canteen. Currently, there are two restaurants in the Golden Temple, which can accommodate 2,000 people at the same time. After the new restaurant is built, the number of people dining at the same time can increase to 3,000 people. Lentils, rice and the dessert “milk porridge” made with milk and rice are the most common foods in restaurants. On Wednesdays and Sundays, the food served in the restaurant is slightly different.

The Golden Temple costs 1 million rupees a day to buy and make these foods. In addition to free food, the Golden Temple offers pilgrims free or very cheap accommodation, and a hall has been opened to house 1,000 homeless people.