One of the three pillars of the Sikh faith is vand ke chakna; the act of sharing one’s fruit of labour with others. In sharing, a Sikh understands that everything he possesses has been provided by Waheguru, the alimighty God, and it is his duty as a Sikh of the guru to share what he has with others in community.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, from an early age, was deeply sympathetic to the plights of the needy. His father had once given him money and instructed him to enter into a good bargain, or khara sauda. The Guru left home in search for such a trade when he came across a group of saints who had not eaten for several days. Guru Ji chose to use the money on feasting the saints as to him, there was no bargain better than the act of giving to those who are in need. Later, the Guru institutionalised the langar- a common kitchen in all Gurudwaras that provides free vegetarian food to all, regardless of race, creed or caste.
At SIWEC, we once again had the blessed opportunity to further this very spirit of vand ke chakna last November 2015.
For two days on the 12th and 17th of November 2015, volunteer counsellors active in SIWEC’s prisons counselling services for inmates along with members of SIWEC’s management committee spent the morning of each day doing Naam Simran, Kirtan and Gurbani explanation followed by Ardaas for inmates. This was in order to commemorate Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday Celebrations at the prisons as a congregation with inmates from our community and in line with SIWEC’s counselling, rehabilitation and befriending efforts for inmates which aim to successfully reintegrate them back into society. SIWEC was also able to secure approval for Langgar of Karah Parsad with Channa to be taken into the prisons that was prepared by the Yishun Gurdwara. SIWEC is especially thankful to the Prisons for allowing us to continue to effectively reach out to inmates who are members of our community. We are also grateful for our committed team of volunteers who make themselves readily available to cater to the needs of these inmates, and most importantly are there to remind them that they are not forgotten.
To further their counselling objectives which is primarily to provide counselling, rehabilitation and befriending inmates and to assist them to reintegrate back into society, SIWEC and its committed team of volunteers visits inmates to celebrate Vesakhi and Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday celebrations every year.