Annual Schveel Seva: Free Drinks in the City Centre
About Schveel Seva
Every June, Sikhs around the world take to the streets to hand out free cool drinks, a centuries-old tradition known as Schveel (or Chhabil), in remembrance of the extraordinary courage and calm of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the 5th Sikh Guru, who was martyred in 1606.
SCYS proudly carries on this tradition in the heart of Nottingham. Each year we set up in Market Square, opposite Marks & Spencer in the city centre, and give out thousands of free cool drinks to shoppers, workers, visitors and passers-by, alongside thousands of flyers telling the remarkable story of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and what this act of generosity means.
No purchase is required, no strings are attached. A cold drink on a warm June day is offered simply as an act of love, service and remembrance.
The Story Behind the Tradition
In 1606, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus, compiler of the Sikh holy scripture and builder of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, was arrested by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Accused of spreading teachings that drew people of all faiths, and pressured to convert to Islam, Guru Arjan Dev Ji refused.
What followed was an act of brutal torture. The Guru was made to sit on a red-hot iron plate whilst burning sand was poured over their body. Yet throughout the ordeal, Guru Arjan Dev Ji remained serene, calm and steadfast, a composure so profound that it has been remembered, honoured and emulated by Sikhs around the world for more than four centuries. They were subsequently martyred, becoming the first Sikh Guru to give their life in this way.
The tradition of Schveel, handing out cool drinks in June, is a direct response to this story. Just as burning sand was poured over the Guru, cool water is offered to others. It is a tangible act of seva (selfless service), a living memorial to an extraordinary human being, and a quiet, generous statement about the Sikh values of compassion, tolerance and care for others.
Our Impact in Nottingham
SCYS's annual Schveel Seva brings this global tradition into the heart of Nottingham each June. By setting up in Market Square, one of the busiest pedestrian spots in the city, we reach thousands of people who may have little or no prior knowledge of the Sikh community, its history or its values.
Each free drink is accompanied by a flyer, thousands of which are distributed every year, that tells the story of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and explains the meaning behind the gesture. In this way, the Schveel Seva serves as a uniquely effective piece of public education and community outreach: warm, welcoming, entirely without obligation, and rooted in a story that resonates across all faiths and backgrounds.
The themes of the Schveel, standing firm for freedom of religion, facing injustice with calm rather than violence, and responding to hardship with generosity, are profoundly relevant in today’s world. By placing these values at the centre of a public act of giving, SCYS contributes in a meaningful way to community cohesion, interfaith understanding and the promotion of tolerance and peace in Nottingham.
The Schveel Seva is one of the most visible expressions of what SCYS stands for: a community that serves not only its own members, but anyone it encounters, without condition, without expectation, and without cost.
You can view photos from previous years in our gallery.