Norwich — The weekly community meal hosted by local groups at Lee Memorial United Methodist Church will have a different flavor this Sunday, as the new Connecticut chapter of the international group United Sikhs will bring the taste of northern Indian Punjabi food to the Norwich community.

Called “langar seva," which translates as a community meal with selfless service, the event aims to bring together people of all backgrounds, income levels and religions to share a meal and socialize, said Swaranjit Singh Khalsa of Norwich, a founding member of the Connecticut United chapter. The tradition dates back to the founding of Sikhism in the 15th century, Singh Khalsa said. Sikh temples throughout the world offer free meals every day to all comers.

The langar in Norwich will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, 294 Washington St., Norwich, and will be the first official event of the new Connecticut United Sikh chapter, Singh Khalsa said.

The five founding chapter members and their families from Norwich, Southington, Hamden and Mansfield will offer a free vegetarian meal with rice, beans, pasta salad, pita bread, juice and soda. Some of the members run restaurants, he said, so participants can expect professional-quality food preparation.

Singh Khalsa promised the dishes will be “medium” on the spicy scale so as not to scare people away from the Indian food with its reputation of strong spice.

Singh Khalsa hopes the event showcases the theme of embracing diversity and promoting equality of people of all backgrounds and faiths. Singh Khalsa sent invitations to the Norwich City Council and other civic leaders to attend the community meal and embrace those concepts.

“It's a request to all community figures, leaders and city representatives to show up and make a statement that the city of Norwich is all for equality and embrace their community diversity,” Singh Khalsa said.

The Rev. Jacob Juncker, pastor of Lee Memorial, said the Sikh langar represents exactly the goals of the community meal program, with its slogan: “building the community one meal at a time.” Program organizers moved to Lee Memorial in September after rotating among various churches with the hope that it would boost participation and volunteers.

The program has more than 23 religious, nonprofit and other groups providing meals, donations, help with cleaning and serving each week, Juncker said. Attendance has averaged about 55 per week, with meal guests often intermingling with volunteers. The last two Sundays in January had the largest attendance thus far, at about 75 people each week.

Juncker stressed that the community meal is not meant only for homeless or low-income guests but for everyone.

The Sikh United event also will be the first time a group is providing a meal specifically from its cultural roots.

“I am incredibly excited about it,” Juncker said. “It actually represents something we have been striving for in the community meal. When we went to one location we wanted to make the community meal a place where the entire community can gather.”

United Sikhs was formed to raise awareness about the Sikh religion, the world's fifth largest religion with about 30 million followers, to promote civil rights and to respond to natural disasters, Singh Khalsa said. The quote from Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Ji: “Recognize the human race as one,” is printed on the event flier. Sikhs are marking the 350th anniversary of Gobind Singh Ji's birth this year.

Singh Khalsa, owner of the Norwichtown Shell station, has been active in the Norwich community for the past several years. He currently serves on the Norwich Commission on the City Plan and is active in the Greater Norwich Area Clergy Association. On Dec. 7, Singh Khalsa received the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. In April, he will travel to Washington, D.C., for a tour of the FBI headquarters along with other award recipients from across the country.

c.bessette@theday.com