Sikhs in England celebrated Vaisakhi

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – A huge celebration for the festival of Vaisakhi was held in Gravesend,London, where 15 per cent of the population is Sikh.

Vaisakhi is a harvest festival held in the Spring and marks the date when in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa, the body of committed Sikhs.

It is being celebrated in England on many different dates – last weekend in Southall and at the end of the month in Leicester.

Kent Online reports that more than 5,000 people are expected to participate in  Gravesend’s annual event, with a colourful Nagar Kirtan procession led by five flag bearers representing the original Khalsa and including a float carrying of the scripture Guru Granth Sahib.

There will be religious service in the gurdwara grounds with prayers and song, and a funfair and local stalls. The whole community takes part laying on minibuses for vulnerable people and advertising local businesses on the stalls.