Shabeel Sewa
Besides prayer programmes, volunteers from Sri Guru Singh Sabha distributed free drinks (Shabeel sewa) to passers-bys as part of a tradition.
Shabeel, distribution of traditional sherbet, marks the custom of the Sikh community commemorating Shaheedi Gurpurab where Guru Arjan Dev ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, stood by his convictions and accepted martyrdom with grace on 16 June 1606. He was tortured and made to sit on a burning metal pan when he refused to embrace Islam and marry a Mughal princess.
Even under such difficult circumstances, Guru Arjan Dev ji kept calm and quiet and showed no sign of pain, distress or anger. He kept thinking of Waheguru and doing Simran. He said:
Teraa kee-aa meethaa laagai
O Waheguru! Your actions seem so sweet to me.
Har naam padaarath naanak maangai.
Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord.