If you follow Nimrat Kaur on social media, you’ll find comments below her Gurpurab posts where people say they’ve spotted her doing seva at the gurdwara. Nimrat says that she has been visiting the gurdwara in Noida Sector 18 for almost 25 years, and even when she isn’t home on Gurpurab, she ensures to visit a gurdwara and serve langar.

The actress says, “Gurpurab has always been special for me and my family. I’ve loved preparing langar and serving it. It’s kind of a back-breaking job as you have to stand the whole day, but it’s also one of the most rewarding feelings. In the evening, people who’ve been cooking serve you and then everyone eats together. It’s my most favourite memory of celebrating Gurpurab.”

People often spot her and recognise her while she is serving langar, and she says she does get selfie requests. Nimrat says, “People do spot me, and they want to take pictures. But the spirit and emotion of the day is such that everyone is so happy to be eating together and being served. People often come to me and say it is so wonderful to see me serving langar at the gurdwara.”

Nimrat says, “They say it inspires them, seeing someone who’s known coming and doing seva with them. I remember a young mother once came up to me and said, ‘It’s so nice that somebody like you is doing it (seva). This is something kids should see and emulate as a quality’.”

She adds, “Seva is a big part of our faith. To serve and to be a part of the community is such a big part of Sikhi. People of all strata come together and their economic background or differences do not matter — they sit together and eat. I’m an Army girl and I’m from a Sikh family, and these are values of equality that have been inculcated in me since childhood.”

Nimrat, who went to Noida before Diwali, had plans to return to Mumbai after the festival, but has stayed back as her family asked her to. She says, “I have my grandmother and older members at home, and this is not a year to venture out. But, we all will pray at home, prepare food and see where we can serve it to the less privileged.”