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Surrey is set to host one of the world’s biggest Vaisakhi parades this month.
Over 300,000 people are expected to attend the parade on April 20.
For Sikhs in BC and around the world, Vaisakhi is a religious celebration. The holy day commemorates the birth or establishment of Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, in 1699.
According to the Surrey organizers, city’s parade is one of the largest Vaisakhi parades outside of India.
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“Attendees of all races and cultures are welcome at this celebratory and rich cultural event, which features a large number of floats, community performers and live music,” says the society.
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There will also be delicious free vegetarian food prepared by hundreds of volunteers and families along the parade route.
In Sikhism, only vegetarian meals are served at temples and faith-based events such as Vaisakhi.
The practice of serving free meals to the community are acts of seva and langar — two significant aspects of the Sikh religion.
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Seva translates to selfless service and langar is the term used to describe the common kitchen where food is served at a gurdwara (Sikh temple).
Most gurdwaras in the world have a larger langar hall where people of all backgrounds, races, and religions, are welcome to enjoy a free communal vegetarian meal.
This year’s parade will begin at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar Temple (12885 85th Avenue in Surrey).
The parade, which features a variety of floats, community groups, live music and dancers and performers travels along 124th Street, turns left onto 75th Avenue, continues on 76th Avenue, onto 128th Street, then back to the Temple.
Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade 2019
When: Saturday, April 20, 2019
Time: 9:30 am to 4 pm
Where: Starts at the Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar (12885 85th Avenue in Surrey)
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