Drum rolls and a sea of orange filled Bradford’s streets as about 10,000 Sikhs held a parade to mark the annual celebration remembering the birth of their faith.
The vibrant procession wound its way through the city yesterday starting from the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara in Leeds Road and stopping at Bradford's six Sikh temples, to celebrate the festival of Vaisakhi.
Young drummers from Taran Acoustix led the parade, with bearers of the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh holy flag, and a five-strong guard of honour, carrying ceremonial swords.
The centrepiece of the procession, displayed on a float decked with garlands of flowers, was the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh holy book, and many children dressed in bright orange, joined in chanting hymns.
Ranbir Singh Rai, president of the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, said people from all over the North had come to join in the celebrations.
He said: “I think there have been about 10,000 people because we gathered more from all the Gurdwaras. There have been so many people here to celebrate.”
Vaisakhi is the most important day for the Sikh religion, which this year celebrates its 313th anniversary.
On the April 13, 1699, the first day of Vaisakhi, the tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji transformed the Sikh community into the Khalsa Order or saint-soldiers.
Speaking from the parade, Sukhraj Bal, 26, of Rooley Lane, Bradford, said: “We are here because it is the birth of our religion and to celebrate the birth of Sikhism.
“People come from all over to join in the celebrations.”
Those taking part in the Bradford parade were joined by senior police and army personnel, including Lieutenant Colonel Howard Newson and Sergeant Major Shamim Ahmed.
Sgt Major Ahmed said: “We have visited the Gurdwara before but this is the first time we have taken on the Vaisakhi parade. It is great that there have been so many people and I think the fine weather has helped.”
Lt Col Newson, who is based in York, said: “The Army does a lot of work with all different religions in Bradford and in the city’s mosques and gurdwaras as part of its youth programme. We are here to support the Sikh community.”