550,000 celebrate at Sikh parade
Surrey event to mark Vaisakhi Day believed to be largest in world
Every April, millions of Sikhs worldwide celebrate Vaisakhi Day — but the largest of these events anywhere in the world is held in Surrey.
On Saturday, under blue sunny skies, an estimated 550,000 people attended the Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade.
The daylong parade, which began at 9 a.m. at the Gurdwara Sahib Darbar, travelled the streets of Surrey with music, dancers and colourful floats before ending back at the temple at around 5 p.m.
More than 500,000 people were expected to attend the annual Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey on Saturday.
The event celebrates one of the most significant days in the Sikh calendar, marking when Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa
order and founded the Sikh faith in 1699.
However, people of all cultures and communities were welcomed at the community gathering. Vendors offered free food while participants revelled in the music and festivities along the parade route.
`HAZARDOUS SITUATION'
During the festivities, several emergency services were called into deal with a “hazardous situation”
along the parade route, said Surrey RCMP.
Around 3:44 p.m., there were reports that a scissor lift parked on private property near Anvile Way and 128th Street had come into contact with wires.
RCMP, Surrey Fire Service, B.C. Emergency Health Services and Surrey Bylaw Services cleared the parade crowd to allow B.C. Hydro to attend. No injuries were reported but the parade was halted so the crowd could safely disperse.
Last weekend, thousands gathered in Vancouver to celebrate Vaisakhi. B.C. Premier Dave Eby lauded the holiday, which he said in a statement is a showcase of selflessness.
“Vaisakhi is a time for family and friends to gather in worship and celebration. People will pray at gurdwaras, participate in parades and attend other happy gatherings,” Eby said.
“April is also Sikh heritage month, a chance to recount the many contributions the Sikh community in B.C. — the largest outside of India — has made to building our province. We have all benefited.”
Vaisakhi is celebrated in Sikh communities around the world, and is usually held on April 13 or 14.
Vaisakhi is usually marked with prayers and religious services at the temple, or gurdwara, followed by a day of celebration with a parade of colourful floats, singing, dancing, live music and the chanting of hymns. Free vegetarian food and drinks are also served along the route, a form of seva, or selfless service.