Current Events
350,000 Attend Surrey’s Record-Breaking Vaisakhi Parade
NICK EAGLAND
Surrey’s annual Vaisakhi Day Parade was a record-breaker this year.
Upwards of 350,000 people gathered to celebrate at the event, which is among the largest Vaisakhi parade outside of the subcontinent and in its 18th year.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) reported record-breaking attendance.
Vaisakhi is one of the most important days of the year for Sikhs, a holy celebration marking the birth of the Khalsa fraternity, a new year and Punjab’s harvest festival.
“There are people of all cultures and religions, people of all ages, coming together in a very family-orientated day,” spokeswoman Laura Ballance said.
“It’s been a wonderful day full of music and performance and food, of course. I think it’s fair to say that it’s been a very successful event again.”
The Sikh Motorcycle Club led the parade’s procession, which began at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar and included 19 floats representing local Sikh schools, community groups and humanitarian organizations, and one containing the Guru Granth Sahib, the Scripture of Sikhism.
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner were both spotted mingling with attendees at the event.
Ballance said the celebration’s young performers were a big hit, along with CIBC’s limited issue of commemorative silver coins commemorating Vaisakhi Day.
She added that it was a joy to see the community come together for a “volunteer-driven event, that really is filled with so much pride.”
[Courtesy: Vancouver Sun. Edited for sikhchic.com]
April 26, 2016