Despite a cold morning, more than 700 people marched on the streets of Terrace on Saturday, April 13 to celebrate Vaisakhi and Khalsa Day. The two-hour-long procession started and concluded at the gurudwara located on Medeek Ave after circling around the streets of the Southside.
The procession was lead by the Terrace Pipes and Band and five turbaned Sikhs. They were followed by a float decorated with yellow and orange garlands carrying the Sikh holy book, and attendees of the procession singing religious and spiritual songs.
Volunteers distributed cookies, candies, water and pop to the spectators along the way. Upon completion of the parade, groups from Kitimat and Prince Rupert sang religious hymns and recited the history of the celebration. Free food called langar was also served.
Vaisakhi is a harvest festival which is celebrated across parts of Northern India. Vaisakhi also marks the establishment of the ‘Khalsa Panth’ - a term used for baptized Sikhs, by the tenth sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, during Vaisakhi celebrations of 1699 in Punjab, India.
RCMP officers were on hand for traffic control. Among the dignataries attending were Kitselas chief councillor Glenn Bennett, Skeena NDP MP Taylor Bachrach, Skeena B.C. United MLA Ellis Ross, Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas and city douncillors Inder Dhillon and Sarah Zimmerman.
An information booth at the gurudwara was also set up by the Skeena Diversity Society.