Food; Basic Necessity or Luxury

I need not explain how important food is for daily survival, but we often forget its importance when we waste food, be at home or at any of the eating joints. A common psychology that we have is that we have already paid for the food and bought it hence it gives us the right to eat it or waste it. This habit is mostly observed by people eating at food joints where they give back the order saying it doesn't taste good. I myself have been part of this crime few times in life. It was not until today that I was inspired to write a blog on this.

Coming back from some work on the way to Gurudwara I felt really hungry and decided that today I would eat food from the holy kitchen. Hunger was so strong that I didn't even have the patience to perform the rituals first and pray before eating food. As I reached the serving hall I observed that the doors were closed,  we were asked to be seated and wait and while we did so we chanted almighty name, after few minutes gates opened and people walked by to the place where they could sit and be served. From this precious moments of my life came few learning that would like to share.

• Food in any form is valued the most by people who are hungry.
• Food as a basic need is the common necessity of all humans irrespective to status but we often forget it and term luxury food as our necessity depending on hour social habits, unfortunately true; food has become yet Another means of deciding the status of a person basis the kind of consumption of food items. Luxuries and tastes would have no end its you who has to define you necessity.
• A healthy ritual that is practiced in Gurudwara is getting people seated on the mats that are spread over ground, this is done irrespective to the status of the person.
• All people are served same kind of food cooked by common material, offerings are provided only when you spread your hands ahead, this reminds you that you should always be thankful to God for getting your share of food and ensure that you take only as much as you can consume.
• While all of us may find one odd example of people in our family who finds it really difficult to cook for one extra person or some additional food, People come here especially to cook and  take pride in serving for the society and cook for all.

Next time before you waste food or throw some of it, think once that the extra offering that you have and think is waste and is just a luxury to you is actually a basic need for some one else. Optimum utilisation of food and constant practice would ensure no one stays hungry. Are you ready to do your bit?

Manisha Dawar