Thousands march in Birmingham and Smethwick to mark Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Thousands of followers of the Sikh faith marched in Birmingham and Sandwell to mark the annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan procession. The march marked the spring harvest festival in the Sikh faith and saw participants gather at Baba Ke Gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Hockley, just north of Birmingham city center and walk to Baba Sang Gurdwara in St Paul’s Road, Smethwick, Sunday, May. 19.

The procession went along Soho Hill and Soho Road, through Handsworth, stopping at several Gurdwaras along the way as part of the more than four-hour celebration on Smethwick’s High Street, before ending at Baba Sang Gurdwara . Rolling roadblocks were put in place as crowds gathered in traditional, colorful Punjabi attire.

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Vaisakhi celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, more than 300 years ago in 1699. The event was organized by Birmingham and Sandwell Gurdwaras. It was attended by the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Panj Pyare and Gur-Sangat to commemorate the birth of the Khalsa.

The procession was organized by sewadars – volunteers. Food was served in procession, including outside the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara in Soho Road and everyone was welcome.

President Baba Sang Gurdwara spoke before the procession and said, “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, first of all I would like to congratulate every person for a happy Vaisakhi.”

They said this year’s procession was postponed “due to circumstances beyond our control and date conflicts with other events”. Transport for West Midlands has listed a number of road closures with a number of one-way streets turned two-way for the event.