Harjot (left) and Gurman at the Vaisakhi festival at Prairie Winds Park on Saturday, May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Northeast Calgary hosted tens of thousands of Sikh Calgarians who joined together to celebrate Vaisakhi, a festival to honour the birth of their religion in 1699.
The Nagar Kirtan Parade marked the occasion. It started at the Dashmesh Culture Centre and wound down along Falconridge Blvd NE to Prairie Winds Park.
A Nagar Kirtan is a neighbourhood procession with hymns and prayers, paying homage to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture. The scripture is on one of the parade floats and paradegoers can walk up and bow their head to pay tribute. The Nagar Kirtan literally means to bring the religion to the community.
There was no shortage of free food and drink, along with music and prayer at Prairie Winds Park.
The Dashmesh Culture Centre helped fund free transit to the area and ensured an environmentally friendly experience.
The start of the Nagar Kirtan Parade route near the Dashmesh Culture Centre in northeast Calgary. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe area around Falconridge Blvd and Castleridge Blvd was closed off to ensure room for thousands during the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe Calgary Police Mounted Unit was on hand to oversee the Vaisakhi festival at Prairie Winds Park on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikh men watch the procession up to where people honour the Guru Granth Sahib during the Vaisakhi festival at Prairie Winds Park on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYA father and his son receive prasad, a sweet food offered to all visitors to the Gurdwara. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYA woman pays tribute to the Guru Granth Sahib at the Gurdwara set up in Prairie Winds Park on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYA wide view of one of the areas set up for the Vaisakhi Festival at Prairie Winds Park on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThousands line (and fill) the Nagar Kirtan Parade route in northeast Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe 5 AB motorcyclists line up before continuing down the Nagar Kirtan Parade route. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe Sikh Motorcycle Riders of Canada also revved things up at the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYTwo Sikh RCMP officers walk in the Nagar Kirtan Parade on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYOne of the parade floats during the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThese youngsters helped lead the procession, but were waiting at a stop point during the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe Panj Pyara, who precedes the float that holds the Guru Granth Sahib, during the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYA boy pays tribute to the Guru Granth Sahib on the main float during the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYOn on-street sword fight at the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARY Tens of thousands lined Castleridge Blvd NE for the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARYThis eager youngster took part in the Nagar Kirtan Parade in Calgary on May 14, 2022. DARREN KRAUSE / LIVEWIRE CALGARY
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