Kar seva is “the voluntary contribution of physical labor towards cleaning and construction operations at sacred tanks and temples,” in the words of the Sikh Encyclopedia.
In March 2004, the sacred tank of the Golden Temple in Amritsar was cleaned by kar seva. “Devotees from far-flung areas including abroad visited the Golden Temple to participate in the kar seva,” The Tribune reported. According to Gulf News, “Within three days, volunteers cleaned every inch of the tank, carrying mud in anything they could put their hands on.”