'Breaking down barriers': a Sikh temple get-together – in pictures

Volunteers from the local Bristol community making chapatis for the free communal lunch (langar). The chapatis are kneaded and rolled into small balls before being cooked on a hotplate (tawa). The volunteers often find the preparation tranquil and meditative and enjoy the teamwork.
Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

A volunteer in bare feet cooking at the stove in the communal kitchen. She is barefoot as a sign of respect and humility for the gurus and visitors. The vegetarian food is cooked in large saucepans and often provides meals for hundreds of people.
Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

A bowl of dough (left) and a bag of chapati flour needed to make the chapatis. The dough is made from a medium wholemeal chapati flour and water. The chapatis are served with the free vegetarian lunch, langar, which is open to everyone regardless of caste, creed or colour. Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

Visitors queue up for langar (Sikh free kitchen). Everyone is welcome. The food served is prepared on a Saturday evening and cooked every Sunday. Langar celebrates sharing, community and inclusiveness. Everyone must wear a headscarf to show respect and modesty for the gurus.
Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

A visitor eating her vegetarian meal from a thali (steel dish) with her hands, which is part of Sikh practice. Visitors can sit on the floor or eat at tables. The food is blessed in the prayer hall before it is served. They then sit cross-legged to eat on the floor as it is considered disrespectful to sit with legs sticking out. Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

A female visitor with the vegetarian meal served at the Bristol Gurdwara langar (free lunch). The lunch consists of chapati (clockwise), Mooli salad (tomatoes, indian radish and red onions), dhal (lentils), saag paneer (spinach and Indian soft cheese), yoghurt vadas (fried balls with yoghurt) and kheer (sweet rice).
Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

An image of Guru Harkrishan Ji (left) who was renowned for his kind heart during his lifetime. He became a Guru at only five years old - the youngest in Guru history. He helped cure many of the sick during his life (1554-1644). A temple visitor enjoying his free lunch (right) Visitors may sit on the floor or at tables in the Gurdwara.
Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling

Visitors in the temple eating lunch while children play phone games in the background. There is a strong sense of community and family every Sunday and people from all over Bristol gather to enjoy the lunch.
Photograph: Tricia De Courcy Ling