Within the Sikh Rehat Maryada, langar is treated as a sacred institution through which core Sikh principles are made visible in daily life. It is to be open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender, or social status, and all who partake sit together in pangat, in rows on the floor, so that no social hierarchy can be enacted through seating or service. Everyone receives the same food, in the same manner, and no separate utensils or privileged arrangements are permitted. In this way, the shared meal becomes a disciplined practice of equality rather than a mere social custom.

The Rehat Maryada further regulates langar by specifying the nature of the food and the environment in which it is prepared and served. The meal is to be simple, wholesome, and vegetarian, so that people of diverse backgrounds can eat without religious or dietary conflict, and intoxicants such as alcohol or tobacco are strictly excluded from the langar space. Cleanliness and respectful conduct are emphasized, both in the kitchen and in the hall, so that the physical setting reflects the spiritual intent. Those who serve and those who eat are expected to maintain decorum, avoid wastefulness, and receive the food with gratitude rather than entitlement.

Administration of langar is also framed as a collective responsibility of the sangat and gurdwara management. It is sustained through voluntary offerings and donations, and seva in the kitchen and serving line is understood as an act of humility and devotion, not as charity that elevates the giver over the receiver. Community oversight and transparent management help ensure that langar remains free of charge, free of discrimination, and aligned with the Rehat Maryada’s standards. In this way, the code of conduct does not merely prescribe rules for a communal kitchen; it shapes langar into a living discipline through which equality, service, and remembrance of the Divine are continually rehearsed and renewed.