Sewa Day

Sewa Day is an international volunteer day and annual event celebrated primarily by Hindu and Sikh-affiliated groups. It is celebrated a Sunday of October.

Background

Sewa, also Seva, is short for the word Kar Seva, which is derived from the Sanskrit words kar, meaning hands or work, and seva, meaning service.[1][2] In Punjabi, the word seva also means "to worship, to adore, to pay homage through the act of love." In the writings of Sikh gurus, these two meanings of seva (service and worship) have been merged. Seva is expected to be a labour of love performed without desire and intention, and with humility.[3] Kar seva is often translated as "voluntary labour." In the Punjabi language the person performing such service is called a Sevadar. [4]

Sewa Day was launched in 2010 by a nonprofit of the same name, a charity registered in England & Wales (No. 4446848).[5][6]

Activities

The first six Sewa Days were held on the first Sunday of October. This will change in 2016:

Participating groups have organised Sewa Day volunteering projects in old peoples’ homes, homeless shelters, schools in disadvantaged areas, hospitals and hospices, parks, conservation areas and farms.[15]

In 2013, over 75,000 volunteers took part in over 25 countries resulting in more than 561,000 volunteering hours. Sewa Day has taken place in the following countries:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Singha, H. S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 121. ISBN 8170103010.
  2. ↑ Christiane Brosius, Melissa Butcher (1999). Image journeys: audio-visual media and cultural change in India. Sage Publications. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7619-9325-4.
  3. ↑ Virdee, Gurmit Singh. "Labour of love: Kar seva at Darbar Sahib's Amrit Sarover". Sikh Formations: Religion, Culture, Theory. 1 (1): 13–28. doi:10.1080/17448720500231409.
  4. ↑ Sikhi Wiki Seva definition, accessed June 24, 2016
  5. ↑ Sewa Day About Us, accessed June 24, 2016
  6. ↑ Sewa Day Facts, accessed June 24, 2016
  7. ↑ Seva Day 2010, accessed June 24, 2016
  8. ↑ Seva Day 2012, accessed June 24, 2016
  9. ↑ National Hindu Students' Forum (UK), accessed June 24, 2016
  10. ↑ Communities take part in Sewa Day 2012 - Leicester, SikhNet, accessed June 24, 2016
  11. ↑ Seva Day 2013, accessed June 24, 2016
  12. ↑ Seva Day 2014, accessed June 24, 2016
  13. ↑ Seva Day 2015, accessed June 24, 2016
  14. ↑ Facebook status update, accessed June 27, 2016
  15. ↑ What is Sewa Day, National Hindu Students' Forum (UK), accessed June 24, 2016
  16. ↑ Sewa Day Facts, accessed June 24, 2016
  17. ↑ Sewa Day Facebook page, accessed June 24, 2016
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