Annual Vaisakhi parade draws thousands to Vancouver’s Punjabi Market
The streets of South Vancouver transformed into a lively, colourful celebration on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the city’s annual Vaisakhi parade, which organizers say is one of the largest of its kind in Canada.
The parade kicked off on Marine Drive at the Ross Street gurdwara, weaving its way through the heart of the Punjabi Market district at the intersection of Main Street and 49th Avenue, down Fraser Street and back to the temple.
Along the route, crowds were met with colourful floats playing hymns, energetic dancers, and free meals from dozens of volunteer-run food stalls — a tradition rooted in the Sikh practice of langar, or communal kitchen.
“Vaisakhi is always on [April 13], but we celebrate it on Saturday,” said Kashmir Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the society.
Hundreds of volunteers helped prepare the temple before the parade, with organizers saying that an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 people attended the festivities.
Jagdeep Sanghera, vice-president of the Khalsa Diwan Society, said that there was a flag-changing ceremony on Friday ahead of the celebration.
“We welcome everybody, all political, different views,” he said.
This year’s festivities were marked by a wave of patriotism, as attendees proudly waved Canadian flags.
B.C. Premier David Eby joined the celebrations and praised the community’s spirit of inclusion and resilience.
“The values of the Sikh religion is that we’re all human, we see each other’s humanity and we support each other,” Eby told CBC News. “I think that’s what you’re seeing, patriotism as well as the value is reflected in all of us coming together.”
Armor Valor Corrales, board director of Filipino B.C., who grew up in South Vancouver, says he has embraced the Vaisakhi parade as part of his own cultural fabric.
This year, he stepped further into the spirit of the celebration by tying a turban.
In a first, Baisakhi celebrated at State Capitol in Olympia city
Vaisakhi was celebrated for the first time at the State Capitol in Olympia, the capital city of Washington state, with special proclamations being issued on the occasion to commemorate the Indian festival.
The consulate general of India in Seattle hosted the first celebration of Baisakhi at the State Capitol in Olympia on Monday. The special celebration was attended by Washington state governor Bob Ferguson, lieutenant governor Denny Heck, secretary of state Steve Hobbs as well as by state senators, legislators from the Washington state legislature, in addition to prominent members of the Sikh community residing in Washington.
The event marks the first such celebration of the festival of Baisakhi at the State Capitol, a press release issued by the Seattle consulate said.
Addressing the gathering, Ferguson welcomed the contributions of the Indian-American Sikh community in the state of Washington and appreciated the hosting of the Baisakhi celebrations at the State Capitol in Olympia.
In a special gesture, the governor of Washington also issued a special proclamation on the occasion of Baisakhi. In addition, King County – covering 39 cities of Greater Seattle area, along with Snohomish County, and cities of Kent, Auburn and Marysville also issued special proclamations declaring April 14 as the Baisakhi Day celebration across the Greater Seattle area.
A large number of Indian-American Sikh community members are resident in the State of Washington and engaged in small and medium enterprises and businesses. They also “actively contribute to public service enriching the State’s cultural and economic diversity”, the Consulate said adding that some of the eminent leaders of the community were recognised and felicitated on the occasion for their positive contributions to the Greater Seattle area.
UK PM Starmer hails British Sikhs’ contribution in Baisakhi message
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the contributions of British Sikhs across all walks of life in the UK in his Baisakhi greetings from 10 Downing Street on April 13.
Having hosted a special reception earlier this week to mark the festival symbolising the birth of the Khalsa, Starmer posted a video on social media showcasing the festivities along with his Baisakhi message. “It’s really fantastic to be able to come together and to celebrate the contribution of British Sikhs to our nation, and what a contribution that is and has been and will be into the future,” said Starmer. “From across our society, armed forces, those who contribute to our schools, NHS, charities, and businesses. If you think about it, throughout our history, from fighting for Britain in the World Wars and today the work supporting people struggling with the cost of living, or welcoming refugees from Ukraine, the generosity of gurdwaras across Britain,” he said.
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