Thousands expected to attend this weekend's Vancouver Vaisakhi parade
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Vancouver’s Sikh community will be celebrating at this year’s Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday, April 13 – and everyone is invited.
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 Vancouver Khalsa Diwan Society, the Vancouver parade is one of the largest Vaisakhi events in the world.
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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.
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 KDS Ross Sikh Temple at 11 am and will make its way to the Punjabi Market located at Main Street and 49th Ave.
Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade 2019
When: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Time: 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Starts at Ross Street Sikh Temple – 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver