Massive Vaisakhi parades return to Surrey, Vancouver

By Mata Press Service

After a pandemic-induced hiatus of three years, two mammoth Khalsa Day parades, to mark the Sikh New Year will be held in Vancouver and Surrey this month.

The Surrey event on April 22, the largest Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade in the world, is expected to draw about 500,000 people and bring in tens of millions of dollars to the city coffers.

The Vancouver parade on April 15 is expected to draw about 200,000 people.

Similar parades and celebrations will be held by Sikh communities all over the country.

“After having to cancel the parade and the other weekend celebrations for the past three years, we know that the community locally in BC as well as guests who travel from as far away as across the US, Europe and Australia will be thrilled to hear that the 2023 Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade is definitely back on,” says Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar President Gurdeep Singh Samra.

“We are expecting significant crowds to gather to celebrate this important event in the Sikh calendar, and we look forward to welcoming people of all ages and ethnicities to celebrate along with us at this free, family-friendly event,” said the official from the Sikh temple, which organizes the event.

The Surrey parade itself features a colourful and entertaining procession of over 2500 participants representing 20 community organizations. Hundreds of booths along the route, sponsored by local businesses and families give away free food and treats to onlookers. The Khalsa Diwan Society which organizes the Vancouver parade said their event is “the only Sikh parade in Vancouver which is recognized as a civic event.”

The Vaisakhi parades or Nagar Kirtan are lively celebrations 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.

April is also Sikh Heritage Month in British Columbia.

“April is a particularly important time in Sikhism as it marks the occasion of Vaisakhi, the beginning of spring harvest and the start of a new agricultural year,” said Mable Elmore, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives.

“In the late 19th century, the first Sikh settlers arrived in British Columbia to work in lumber mills, the logging industry, on farms, and the railway with Chinese migrants.

Many early Sikh settlers arrived in Golden to work at the local lumber company. In 1905, Sikhs in Golden built North America’s first Gurdwara, which was destroyed by fire in 1926. Today, North America’s oldest, operational Gurdwara, built in 1911, is located in Abbotsford.

“Throughout the ensuing decades, Sikhs were denied the right to vote, subjected to hate and violence, and kept from their families through unjust immigration policies. Despite all of this, the Sikh community persisted – being strong advocates for equality, social justice and service to others in neighbourhoods across B.C.,” said Elmore.

“The term “sevā” means selfless service that is performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it and is a main tenet of the Sikh faith. During the snowstorm last December, a group of volunteers with the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar in New Westminster demonstrated sevā by opening their temple to motorists who were trapped overnight on the Queensborough Bridge. The volunteers provided food, hot tea and a place for people to warm up and sleep safely. This is just one example of how Sikhs have stepped up to help others.

“While this is a month to celebrate, we can’t pretend the hate and discrimination many early Sikh settlers experienced isn’t still very much alive today. Last month, a Sikh international student was brutally attacked in Kelowna in a suspected hate crime. Incidents like these are horrifying and unacceptable. We must come together in solidarity to support each other, embrace our differences and defend everyone’s right to live as themselves,” said Elmore.

“There is more work to do to dismantle systemic racism and we’re committed to leading this important work in honour of the many early settlers who didn’t have a chance to see the advances we have made to improve equity so far.

“This Sikh Heritage Month I encourage all British Columbians to learn more about the incredible and selfless contributions that Sikh Canadians have made – and continue to make – in shaping our province. By taking the time to celebrate and learn about the diverse communities in our province, we can make B.C. a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.”

Canada has the highest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab in India.

Vaisakhi Q&A

Q: What are the origins of Vaisakhi?

A: Although Vaisakhi has traditionally been a harvest festival in Punjab and across South Asia for centuries, the day has a very special significance for Sikhs. On Vaisakhi Day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Order of the Khalsa. The Khalsa are those Sikhs who have accepted the Sikh initiation or “khande kee paahul” and commit to live their lives in the service of humanity and the spirit of equality and compassion. The founding of the Khalsa was a seminal event in Sikh history which gave the Sikh faith its final form.

Q: What is a Nagar Kirtan?

A: The word nagar means town and kirtan is singing of hymns. A nagar kirtan refers to a Sikh parade that is led by the Punj Pyare (the five beloved ones, who represent the first five Sikh to have been initiated) and the Sri Guru Granth Sahib or the Sikh scripture, which is placed in a decorated float. The congregation follows the parade while singing hymns and verses from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, along with displays of the Sikh martial art gatka and distributing free food (langar). The nagar kirtan begins and concludes with a religious service and the serving of langar.

Q: What is the significance of the orange and yellow colours?

A: Yellow and orange are the traditional colours of Vaisakhi. They represent the spirit of rebirth and sacrifice of the Punj Pyare but are also a colour of joy and celebration. When Vaisakhi is celebrated in Punjab, the golden yellow wheat fields are ready to be harvested.

Q: Who can participate in Vaisakhi celebrations?

A: Everyone. The Sikh faith considers all persons to be equal, regardless of gender, race, nationality or class. Sikh gurdwaras are open to all people. The langar or community meal is also offered to both Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.

Q: Is there any special dress I should wear?

A: The only requirements to visit a Sikh gurdwara are that visitors take off their shoes and cover their heads. Any intoxicants such as tobacco products or liquor are also not permitted on the premises. – World Sikh Organisation of Canada