Elderly Sikh Neighbors Unravel Turbans In Order To Pull Struggling Teens From Frozen Pond

Nov 17, 2020 by apost team

The neighborhood watch of Calgary, Canada, is looking out for more than burglars and vandals. When some teenage girls who were ice skating fell through the thin ice of a local pond earlier this November, these men stepped up to save their neighbors. The elderly Sikhs of this community put the symbols of their faith into action.

The Sikh turban, also known as the Dastar, symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility, and spirituality. The turban is the first thing a believer puts on in the morning and the last thing taken off before sleep.

To take off your turban, particularly in public, indicates a loss of the Sikh identity and is strictly forbidden, explains World Sikh. There are, however, some conditions in which the turban can be removed in public such as in the case of an emergency, or if someone requires help. Humanity always comes first in Sikhism, even before the turban.

As such, the Sikh community members who leaped into action on the morning of the near-drowning of their neighbors didn't hesitate to remove their turbans to help. The turbans, signs of equality and religious identity, became symbols of unity and strength.

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The pond that the girls fell into is located in the center of the neighborhood. These neighbors walk around it daily for exercise and to have some social interaction with each other. When the girls were spotted, several people made good choices:

• Someone heard their cries and called 911
• Someone grabbed a piece of building siding from a construction site to extend to the girls
• Someone brought a garden hose to act as a stronger rope than the turban
• Someone reached out to the girls from the other side of the water

It's been an anxious time for the whole planet, and many of the Sikh faith have been persecuted by those who don't understand the peaceful actions and community focus of their religion. There are many who fear the turban and misunderstand what it symbolizes. For many Sikhs, the act of extending a hand can result in a dangerous misunderstanding.

Neighbor Kulbinder Bangar was a witness to the fallout of the breaking ice. She wasn't aware there were people on the pond until she heard the girls scream. According to Global News, by the time she could get to the window, the elderly Sikh team of rescuers was on the shore, reaching out for the girls with the siding and finally with their turbans.

November in Calgary, Canada, can get extremely cold. These young ladies may have used this pond before as a place to skate, slide, or play. However, on this treacherous morning, the ice wasn't quite stable enough to hold them. Had their Sikh neighbors not noticed their distress and acted so quickly, the event could have evolved into a terrible tragedy.

There are just under 500,000 Sikhs in Canada, and the Sikh community is concentrated at the northeast boundary of Calgary, near where the temple is located. This catastrophic event that could have turned into a community tragedy is a great reminder that community is about reaching, caring, and keeping an eye out for the safety of everyone.

While a traditional neighborhood watch may just mean posting signs and calling in to complain about barking dogs, the Sikh community and these elderly gentlemen remind us that "neighbor" means more than having closely related address numbers and street names.

While many people often struggle with spending the holiday season alone, this story is a reminder that there are many places where the connection of friendship and neighborliness still matters. What a remarkable choice to turn the symbol of identity and equality into a tool of unity and hope!

With both girls saved, this tale had a happy ending. Stuart Brideaux with Calgary EMS told Global News that the quick work from the senior neighbors helped to reduce the time the girls were in the water, which in turn, lessened the health impact of their fall.

“It did have a positive ending. Other than being cold and some mild hypothermia, there were no ill effects or lasting repercussions from this incident,” said Brideaux.

He also offered advice on how to stay safe near frozen water, to avoid incidents like this from happening again: “It’s always advisable that you stay on the banks or well away from [the ice]. It’s not possible to tell the thickness of any ice in terms of what’s safe or not.”

The story of the Sikh turban rescue is a great way to warm up what may well be a very cold morning. Share this story with your loved ones and offer the world a bright spot of hope as we head for a holiday season unlike no other.