The streets of Surrey will be filled with the colours, sounds and sights of Sikhism this Saturday as some 200,000 people are expected to participate in the city’s annual Khalsa Day Parade to celebrate Vaisakhi.

The parade or Nagar Kirtan – considered the largest of its kind outside India – held for the last 12 years will be a lively celebration to mark the Sikh New Year, pay tribute to the harvest and commemorate one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar - the creation of the Khalsa. 

The Khalsa, was founded in 1699 as a Sikh brotherhood and sisterhood to fight adversity and continues to be at the heart of Sikhism.

From here the Sikh nation grew with a renewed identity and as a collective faith underlined by the principles of Sewa or sacrifice for their fellow human beings.

“Vaisakhi in Surrey and around the world is a day when Sikhs celebrate the harvest of goodness from the land and their way of life,” said Harbinder Singh Sewak, one of the key organizers.

“The values of Sikhism will wash over the streets of Surrey this Saturday…everybody is welcome,” said Sewak.

Along the parade route in Surrey, Sikhs will share a message of peace, equality, freedom of religion regardless of caste or creed while the community volunteers will hand out food and drinks to devotees and spectators.

Over 2500 participants representing over 20 community organizations will participate in this event, with thousands more celebrating the spirit of Vaisakhi in roadside booths along the parade route.

The most important float in the procession will carry the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, regarded as the teachings of the religion’s Ten Gurus

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, for the fourth year, will be part of the parade.

“Knowing that the Sikh community's values of duty and honour are the same as the Canadian military, it is always with pride that our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women get to interact with the Sikh community,” said Tung Chan, Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy.

This year the festivities will also see a massive drive for the Surrey Food Bank.

"The giving of food is at the heart of the Khalsa celebration," said Moninder Singh, Dasmesh Darbar Temple spokesman, urging those attending the parade to bring non-perishable food items.

One of the guests of honour at this year’s parade is the Consul General of Greece for Western Canada Ilias Kremmydas.

“It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to celebrate the great feast of Vaisakhi with the local Sikh community… The history of Greeks and Sikhs go back a long way, since both our peoples are so ancient,” said Kremmydas.

“Living in Vancouver, a city with many Greeks, I have come to admire the Sikh community for its dynamism, its prosperity, its inherent value of offering to the wider society, seen every day by the big numbers of Sikhs in the armed forces, the police and the hospitals, as well as its willingness to help and protect those in need,” he said.

Premier Christy Clark said Vaisakhi is an important reminder of the proud and enduring Sikh culture.

"For more than a hundred years, your contributions to British Columbia and Canada have enriched us all. I commend you on your leadership in the community, and your love of B.C, ‘ she said in her annual message to the community.

For Surrey, where it is estimated that one of 4  residents are of South Asian origin, with a large segment coming from state of Punjab, The Khalsa Day celebrations pour millions into the city’s economy and is one of the most successful family events of the year in British Columbia.

While Surrey boasts the biggest Vaisakhi parade outside of India, Vancouver has the distinction of being the oldest such event in B.C. The Vancouver celebrations were held last week.

Vaisakhi celebrations were also held in Kelowna, Victoria and Abbotsford, home of Gur Sikh Gurdwara, B.C.'s oldest Sikh temple.

 

 

Parade Route

 

The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade, which which features a variety of floats, community groups, live music and dancers and performers begins at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple (12885 85th Avenue in Surrey). It travels along 124th Street, turns left onto 75th Avenue, continues on 76th Avenue, onto 128th Street, then back to the Temple. Traffic controls will be in place beginning at 7:30 AM until approximately 5:00 PM, or until the RCMP deem the route is safe to be opened to vehicular traffic.  Access to 128th Street and road sections along the parade route will be impacted most significantly.  Increased delays may be expected for travel through and within the area between 72nd Avenue to 88th Avenue, and Scott Road to King George Highway.

 

More info at surreyvaisakhiparade.ca.