Vaisakhi Vancouver and Surrey 2011
byVaisakhi Day will be celebrated in Vancouver and Surrey this month with two major parades and surrounding festivals.
Vaisakhi marks both the New Year and the anniversary of one of anniversary of one of Sikhism’s most important events, the establishment of Khalsa in 1699 with the first Amrit ceremony [source].
Vancouver
Date: April 16, 2011 beginning around 11:00am
Where: Starts at the Ross Street Temple (8000 Ross Street at 64th) in Vancouver.
Info: Take transit as there will be many road closures nearby.
Surrey
Date: April 23, 2011 beginning around 10:00am
Where: Starts at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple (12885 85th Ave) in Surrey.
Info: One of the largest Vaisakhi parades outside of India. Community businesses do food giveaways, there will be singing, dancing, and many festivities.
This global occasion is also a time to celebrate our local Sikh community, which has a very important place in Metro Vancouver history — especially rising above the tragedy of the Komagata Maru incident almost a hundred years ago. The Sikh temple in Abbotsford is a National Historic Site and there was even an older temple in Vancouver at one time. Vaiskhi is a great time to get out and enjoy the history and culture (and delicious food) of our diverse communities.
