Chapter 3

TASKS PERFORMED
As the report is based on the title “Celebrating Rural Heritage: A
journey through the cultural activities and Festivals of rural India”
Under the category I of social internship named as “Appreciation of
rural Society” and chosen the activity of “participating in rural cultural
activities and festivals ” I had performed following tasks :

Sr.no Task performed date description

1. Chabeel 26 June Chabeel refers to a stall which serves refreshing
sweet drinks to the people free of cost in the hot
month of may and June. Chabeels are commonly
seen in Punjab. It has its own historical
significance that we will going to discuss in
chapter 3.1.
2. Preparations for 27 June Langer is common practice in Punjab. Its
Langer basically giving free food to the needy people. It
can be commonly seen in Punjab on the days
having historic significance for sikh community.
Also sikh community is serving langers to needy
people everyday. We will going to discuss it in
detail in chapter 3.2
3. Gurmat smagam 28 June On 28 june I take part in a gurmat smagam that is
organized by our local gurdwara management in
the context of miri Piri Diwas. Where I get
chance to awoke my soul by listening kirtan and
path of Sukhmani sahib. Also I teamed up with
sewadars to serve langar to people. We will going
to discuss historic significance of miri Piri Diwas
in chapter 3.3.
4. Dastar 30 June Wearing a turban (dastar) is proud symbol of
competition Sikh culture and community. But nowadays Sikh
people forgetting the pride of turban by the effect
of western culture. To keep roots implanted me
and some of my friends managed to organized a
dastar competition in a local village. We are
going to discuss the importance of turban in Sikh
community in chapter 3.4.
Table.1 Tasks performed
1.1 Chabeel

The term chabeel refers to a stall offering a cold non alcoholic

sweet drink to the people passing in front of the stall free of any
cost for refreshment. This is mainly offered on sunny summer
days of month June and July (jeth and harh) when the temperature
of India reached at its highest peek. The stalls are often installed
by roadside and serves tubs of refreshing drinks. The sweet drink
is made up of rose syrup, sugar, milk, water and sometime a
special flavored essence is used . sometimes the served lemonade
to the people for there refreshment. The stalls are often set up by
Sikh people and community and most commonly seen in Punjab.

Figure: chabeel at landran – sirhind road near village badali ala singh, district fatehgarh sahib, punjab

Historical significance: chabeel has a historical significance with

the martyrdom of 5th guru of Sikhs “shri guru Arjan dev ji” .shri
guru Arjan dev ji was a spiritual leader who compiled the holy
shri guru granth sahib ji and played a important role in shaping
Sikh principles and practices. Shri guru Arjan dev ji faced
persecution and torture under the mugils empire due to his refusal
to compromise on Sikh principles. In the scorching heat of may
30, 1606 (month of jeth) guru Arjan dev ji was made to sit on hot
iron plate (tavi) and boiling sand was continuously poured over
him. Despite of this brutal treatment , guru Arjan dev ji remained
calm and has its faith in god.
It is believed that during that time , a devoted Sikh named bhai
gurdas ji offered a refreshing and cold drink to shri guru Arjan
dev ji as an act of compassion and kindness. The drink provide
comfort to shri guru Arjan dev ji in the face of extreme heat and
pain.
The act of serving this drink to guru Arjan dev ji came to known
as “chabeel”. It become a symbol of selfless service and spirt of
seva within Sikh community.

Figure : guru Arjan dev ji

Field Work: On the day of June 25 we formed a team with local

gurdwara management and collected ingredients necessary for
chabeel such as rooh afza (rose syrup), sugar, milk etc. also we
choose a busy road for our stall. On 26 June early in morning we
went to the site and setup our tent on roadside. We managed to
get a tanker of clean water and ice and the utensils required to the
site along with gathered ingredients to the site using tractor trailer.
 Figure 1serving chabeel at landran – sirhind road near village badali ala singh, district fatehgarh sahib, punjab

Then we prepare the drink which is quite easy process . we take

a tub and first mix first batch of sugar i.e. around 25kg in water
then mix water and milk in ratio of 8:2 along with rose syrup that
results to a pink drink . To keep it cold ice is added to the tub.
This batch results to around 80-100 liters of sweet drink. Then we
start serving drink to every vehicle passing from road by the help
of steel glasses and kettles. Vehicles are requested continuously
to stop at the stall through announcements made on loud speaker.
The drink was continuously prepared and served till evening.

3.2 Langar Sewa

The term langar refers to free meal service provided in sikh
gurdwaras. It reflects the principle of equality, selfless services,
sewa and sharing. Langar is open to everyone, regardless religion,
caste, status. Langers are prepared by sewadars . it mainly consist
of vegetarian food prepared with love. It is served on the floor
where peoples are sitting in rows and everyone needs to sit
together regardless their cast or social status strengthen social
equality. Langars are not only limited to sikh gurudwaras. Sikh
community and sikh organizations organize langar sewa in
various situation i.e. disaster relief efforts, protests on roads,
homeless shelters etc.
 Figure preparing langar at village dadiana, district fatehgarh sahib, punjab

Historical significance: The tradition of langar was established by

first guru of Sikhism “Shri guru nanak dev ji”. Guru nanak dev ji
emphasized principle of equality and importance of service to
others. He tried to brake the barriers of caste, religion and social
status and prompting sense of unity.
It is bleaved that once the father of shri guru nanak dav ji gave
him 20 rupees to make a business but at that time guru nanak dev
ji served food to some hungry sages to give them some relief that
is later on known as the term “langar”.
This tradition is keep alive by their devotee’s till date to serve
mankind selflessly. According to latest data, the per day budget
of langar served at golden temple is around 11 lakhs and around
16 lakhs on weekend.
 Figure 2 serving langar at gurdwara sahib village dadiana district fatehgarh sahib,punjab

Field work: On 27 june I was just roaming in my village I search

of an activity then I heard an announcement from gurudwara
sahib informing people about the program organized on the
occasion of miri piri diwas on next day. They also need sewadars
for the preparations of the program and langar. I went there for
volunteering as sewadar. They divided us in teams and assign
different works like decorations, cleaning of utensils for
preparing food next morning, cleaning of langar hall where food
is to be served, and collecting of ingredients from market. I was
assigned with the work of cleaning utensils and langar hall.
Everyone there is working for free selflessly. This was a great
experience for me.

3.3 Gurmat smagam

Gurmat smagam is a term refers to spiritual gathering or
congregation centered around the teachings of guru granth sahib ji.
Gurmat means the teaching of guru while smagam refers to gathering
or assembly. In a gurmat smagam sikhs come together to engage in
various spiritual activities such as kirtan, katha and Simran. I attended
a gurmat smagam orgnaised in the account of Miri piri diwas.

Figure 3 gathering at gurmat smagam vill-dadiana,district- fatehgarh shaib, punjab

Historical significance: miri piri diwass is occasion celebrated in

Sikhism in account of the concept of miri piri. miri and piri are two
swords wore by sixth Guru of Sikhism "Shri guru Hargobind
Sahib".Miri Refers to temprol power while Piri refers to spirtual
authority. miri piri diwas is reminder for us to embrace both spirtual
and wordly responsibility. this reminds us for integrating spiritual
values with active participation in socity and promoting justice,
equality.
 Figure 4 bhai gurcharan singh hawara chief guest at gurmat smagam held on
28 june on occasion of miri piri diwasat vill dadiana, district fatehgarh shaib,tehsil bassi pathana, punjab

Field work: on 28 june I went gurudwara sahib at my own village.

Where teams of sewadars are preparing langar for program then I go
inside darbar shaib where I bowed my head in front of shri guru granth
sahib ji then I sat on ground first we listen the path of shri Sukhmani
sahib which is followed by kirtan and katha . after that all the devotees
(sangat ) went for langar .where I volenter as a sevsdar to serve food
to people sitting on ground . After everyone had langar we washed and
dried all the utensils.
3.4 Turban Competition
Turban (DASTAR) is a pride symbol for every sikh. It is a
traditional head covering worn by sikhs. It is symbol of respect,
honor and spirituality. it holds a great importance in Sikhism. It
represents discipline, equality, and sovereignty. A sikh wearing
turban has its unique identity. We treat it as a crown of spirituality.
But now a days many youngster sikhs stops to wear turban they
start to treat it a extra weight over their head. Which is itself a
topic to concern. Turban competition plays an important role to
keep roots implanted. The motive of turban compitation is to
motivate youngsters and new generations to wear turban and
follow the teaching of the gurus.

Figure 5 turban compe on held in village sihala, tehsil machhiwara, district ludhiana

Field work: I was invited by my friends to volunteer in a turban

competition organized at village Sihala, tehsil Machhiwara,
district Ludhiana which is situated around 35 km from my
village. I decided to go there the first thing to do at turban
competition is to register participants. Around 30 children of
village got themselves registered . we gave them turban kits
including pins, mirror and bazz (setting tol for turban). Then we
announced the rules.the basic principle of turban compition is to
tie a beautiful turban . a participant named Puneet stood first. This
was a great experience.