Hundreds of thousands expected to turn out for Surrey Vaisakhi Parade 2016

Surrey’s Sikh population will be celebrating at this year’s Vaisakhi Parade at Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple on April 23 – and everyone is invited!

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to turn out for this year’s colourful Vaisakhi Parade, which attracted 300,000 people last year.

Parade-goers can enjoy East Indian music, thousands of people in beautiful traditional clothing, and free food including curry lunches, chips and more tasty treats.

This week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also celebrating Vaisakhi.

“This week, the Sikh community in Canada and around the world will celebrate Vaisakhi, the holiest day in the Sikh calendar,” said Trudeau in a statement.

“On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish all those celebrating Vaisakhi a joyous celebration.”

Alternatively known as the Surrey Khalsa Day Parade, the festivities also mark the anniversary of one of Sikhism’s most important events, the creation of the Khalsa in 1699.

Khalsa – meaning pure – refers to the baptism ceremony all Sikhs are expected to go through as part of their own personal spiritual evolution.

This year’s Vaisakhi Parade starts Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple at 9:30 a.m., then heads south along 128th Street, west at the BC Hydro (Newton) Railway line, south down 124th Street, west back to 128th Street via 75th and 76th Avenues, and then back to the temple.

Surrey Vaisakhi Parade 2016

When: Saturday, April 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Starts at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple – 12885 85th Avenue, Surrey