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TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kulwinder Sing Layal (right) a member of the Deshmesh Darbar Temple, serves food at a mobile soup kitchen behind the Siloam Mission, Saturday, in honour of Ruru Gobind Singh's birthday, which is celebrated by Sikhs around the world.

As temperatures plummeted and chilling winds howled Saturday afternoon, members of the Deshmesh Darmar Temple were braving the elements serving hot curry, rice and pudding to Winnipeg’s homeless.

The act of kindness by the Sikh group was in celebration of Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday. Singh was the 10th out of 11 of the Sikh gurus.

The event was in partnership with the Feed My Lambs Street Mission, a Winnipeg organization that serves hot meals weekly to the city’s homeless.

A staff of about 10 transported the homemade vegetarian food — all traditional East Indian dishes — to Siloam Mission’s Princess Street parking lot. They served over 200 people, reported Pam Ghattora, president of the Ramgarhia Association of Manitoba.

In addition to the hot meals, the group also handed out mitts, tuques and gloves to help their diners get a little warmer.

Ghattora said this is the second time in two months the group has hosted a Sikh lungar, meaning mobile kitchen, but Saturday’s frosty food service proved to be a bit colder than the group’s November effort.

"Yes, it was very chilly but we didn’t mind. It just feels very rewarding to be helping people in that way. Besides, if the people we serve have to live with this kind of cold than we should be able to, too," Ghattora said.

Ghattora added that all who were served were incredibly grateful for the warm meal and outdoor gear. They’re the reason why she and the rest of the volunteers continue to host this event, she said.

"You just get a sense that you’re really helping people and you can see on their faces how happy they are to be receiving the meal. That’s all the motivation we need to continue," Ghattora said.

katherine.dow@freepress.mb.ca