“It is surreal. “It was all smiles as we speak. Individuals who have been stored aside by COVID-19 skipped shaking handshakes and went proper to hugging.” — Mohinder Singh
Revealed Apr 22, 2023 • Final up to date 8 minutes in the past • 3 minute learn
An estimated 700,000 folks took half within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
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Manrag Sara took within the sights and sounds of Surrey’s largest pageant Saturday afternoon from the vantage level of his father’s lap.
The 11-year-old continues to be studying what it means to be a Sikh, mentioned his father, Lakhwinder Sara, who migrated to Surrey along with his household near a decade in the past.
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An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
An estimated 700,000 folks participate within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, BC Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Surrey, BC parade, the primary in three years as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, is the world’s largest and is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a centuries-old vacation celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
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“Right this moment, for us, represents so many issues. Most of all — love,” Sara mentioned whereas wanting down at his smiling son.
“I’m pleased right here,” mentioned Manrag, his tooth have been stained pink from the sugary floss of cotton sweet.
The duo sat on the sidewalk of 84th Avenue, surrounded by hundreds of others who walked the 128th Road route as a part of Canada’s largest Vaisakhi parade, in Newton.
An estimated 700,000 folks took half within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey on Saturday, April 22, 2023.Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
Vaisakhi marks the Punjabi new 12 months and harvest season, together with the beginning of the Sikh faith with the founding of Khalsa in 1699.
Most males, together with the Saras, wore head coverings on the annual pageant whereas ladies in attendance donned vivid and vibrant fits.
The festivities, which started round 9 a.m. at Surrey’s Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar temple, noticed a piece of Newton streets cordoned off to accommodate an estimated 700,000 attendees.
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In a show of generosity, members have been provided tea, sweets and vegetarian Punjabi dishes beneath tents stationed alongside the parade route by 2,500 volunteers from numerous neighborhood teams and companies.
For Mili Negi, who migrated to Coquitlam 5 years in the past, the celebration meant time to assemble with buddies in her “residence away from residence.”
Surrey, the 23-year-old mentioned, has at all times provided her the acquainted tastes and sights of being again in India.
“It seems like we’re lastly all collectively once more, unified as one,” mentioned Negi. “Simply as in Sikhism, everyone seems to be welcome right here.”
An estimated 700,000 folks took half within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey on Saturday, April 22, 2023.Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
First-timer Antoinette Janosy mentioned she felt included when a gaggle of girls behind her in a meals queue walked her by means of the expertise.
“I requested: ‘Is there something I’ve to say once I stand up there?’” the 75-year-old Richmond resident recalled. “The ladies have been so variety, they defined all the things to me.”
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Janosy and her buddy Janis Malcolm, a customer from Prince Edward Island, got kale paneer and roti Saturday. The pair ate the dish utilizing their palms, agreeing that it was each scrumptious, and “spicy.”
Spokesperson Moninder Singh mentioned after a three-year hiatus, the occasion drummed up extra crowds than he’s witnessed in his 15 years of organizing.
The Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar temple started internet hosting the parade when it opened its doorways in 1998. Inside its first few years, it grew to 60,000 attendees. By 2019, it was attracting near 500,000 members yearly.
“It’s surreal,” mentioned Singh. “It was all smiles as we speak. Individuals who have been stored aside by COVID-19 skipped shaking handshakes and went proper to hugging.”
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An estimated 700,000 folks took half within the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey on Saturday, April 22, 2023.Picture by Jason Payne /PNG
Whereas some individuals who arrange cubicles alongside the parade route advocated sure political or non secular agendas, resembling imploring their fellow Sikhs to repent for his or her sins, the overall environment of the parade was acceptance.
“The concept of respect and dignity is central to Sikhism,” mentioned Singh. “Folks know this isn’t a time and place to get into debates however to share within the pleasure of being collectively.”
The Vaisakhi celebration is ready to final your complete weekend, with rides, video games on the grounds of the gurdwara.
sgrochowski@postmedia.com
First since 2019, Surrey’s Vaisakhi parade may draw 700,000-plus, organizers say
Vaisakhi parade returns to Vancouver after three years
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