Vaisakhi a splash of colour

Photo: David Wylie

Thousands of Okanagan residents experienced a colourful taste of Sikh culture Saturday during the annual Vaisakhi parade.

About 8,000 people were expected to partake in the food and festivities, as well as line the parade route in Kelowna's Rutland area. That's up from 1,000 during the first parade six years ago.

"It doesn't matter what group or what faith you belong to," said Amarjit Singh Lalli, spokesman for the Okanagan Sikh Temple. "It's becoming part of the community. It's about every individual becoming a role model."

Vaisakhi is one of the most significant holidays in the in Sikh calendar.

The parade, which started at about noon, was a sea of brilliant colours and drew many spectators who watched, filmed and snapped photos.

The McLane family came out to watch the parade for the first time.

"We heard it was colourful. I love music, good food and culture," said Tamiko McLane. "It's beautiful." 

She was with her husband David, and their kids, Charlie, 6, and Sequoia, 3.

Tamiko said it was amazing to see everyone dressed in brilliant colours, and she joked that her kids kept trying to join the parade.

Vaisakhi commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. In the Punjab region of India, Vaisakhi is also the ancient harvest festival that marks the beginning of a new year. It falls in the middle of the month of April because this marks the harvest time of the winter crops.

Lalli said the celebration is an opportunity to let the community know that the temple is an important resource in town. It's also an opportunity to share Sikh history, he said.

"Sikhs haven't been very good at telling their history and this is a good opportunity to do that," he said, adding Sikhs have upheld social justice and stood up for freedom of religion.

The Okanagan Sikh Temple will have a reading of the scriptures Sunday morning at 10 a.m. that's open to the public.