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.