Bhandara responsibilities at Darbar Sahib

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Every morning dhodha & moong is distributed at Darbar Sahib. This tradition has been continuing from Sindh Darbar till the present day. It is said that this Prasad has great significance. This Prasad makes sorrowful people forget their sorrows. It is said that faith & shraddha can make an unhealthy person healthy.

Right from the beginning the food of the Darbar has been very simple. Once someone complained to Baba Gobinddas Sahib that Savitri was using jeera (cumin) in her cooking.  Baba Sai asked Savitri if she was learning new methods of cooking. He said that we have never used such spices like jeera in our cooking right from the time of Sindh. The result will lead to illness. She replied, Sai Sadhuram Sahib had asked her to make tasty vegetables. Hearing this Baba Sai called Sai and asked Him if He had permitted her to use jeera, to which Sai replied that to be satisfied we need to eat tasty food.  If the food is not tasty the guests will order pakoras from outside and satisfy themselves.  That too is part of our expense. On hearing this Baba Sai said that from this day the responsibility of the Bhandara will be on Sai. Baba Gobinddas Sahib said, “Like Shah Sahib had left the reins of his horse in the hands of his Lord, similarly we are handling over the responsibility to you. Now in whichever way want you can spin the wheel”. From that day Baba Sai never interfered in the matters of the Bhandara nor on the quantity of vegetables which were cooked and distributed.

Besides the tookro (dhodha & moong) Sai would see to it that every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner variety of delicacies were made and served.  The tea which was initially prepared twice a day in the morning and evening was now prepared whenever anyone wanted it so that the guests do not go out to eat and drink tea and spend their money unnecessarily. He would happily serve the people. Sai says He gets immense pleasure in feeding, rather than in eating Himself.