New chapatti-making machines for Golden Temple

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 22

Owing to the increasing footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple, the SGPC has revamped arrangements at the Guru Ram Das Langar Hall.

Two new automated LPG-run chapatti-making machines have been introduced in the community kitchen. Three identical machines were already installed at the kitchen. However, the manual chapatti-making will also continue for ‘sewa’ volunteers.

Sources said the reason for getting new machines was that a machine which was donated by a Lebanon-based devotee around a decade ago went defunct a few days ago. Though there were two other machines, they were insufficient to meet the demand and chapattis were being arranged from nearby gurdwaras, said officials.

On an average, 50,000 to 60,000 devotees partake langar daily. “On Sundays, festival days and masya (new moon), the number is more than 1 lakh,” said Raghbir Singh Mand, in-charge of the langar hall. The new machines can together make around 12,000 chapattis per hour. The three old machines used to make around 7,000 chapattis per hour.

Golden Temple’s manager Sulakhan Singh said the SGPC had purchased one machine and another was donated by a woman devotee.

“Considering the number of devotees thronging the temple, even this arrangement can fall short. We have plans to arrange two more chappati-making machines. At present, the new machines are being used on weekends or special days. The mechanical process is very hygienic and eco-friendly. These machines also consume less LPG,” he said.

Meanwhile, the langar hall is in the process of expansion with another building under construction. It will reportedly open in next six months. “With the new building, we will have ample space for cleaning utensils and chopping vegetables,” said Sulakhan Singh.