Photos: Tens of thousands join the 2023 Nagar Kirtan parade in Calgary
Thousands walk in the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Saturday’s Nagar Kirtan parade through the communities of Martindale and Castleridge was a joyous occasion, as tens of thousands of Calgary Sikhs gathered to celebrate part of the Vaisakhi festival.
Nagar Kirtan, the tradition of singing religious songs and performing prayers, saw Calgarians suplicating from the Guru Granth Sahib while engaging in charity and hospitality to all throughout the parade.
The parade was held in celebration of the anniversary of creation of Sikhism by their first religious leader, Guru Nanak.
Photos from the 2023 Nagar Kirtan parade
Bikers take the lead in the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYBikers, men and women, ride in the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikhs hold the flags for Khalistan and Alberta during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikh youth hold a rope ahead of a major float in the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikh men walk with ceremonial swords during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikhs hold the flag of Khalistan during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikh religious songs are sung during Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYDrumming during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYYouth play drums and keyboards during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYPerformers take a moment to pose for a photo during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYAn parade marshal ushers worshipers towards a float during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThousands walk in the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA man hands out samosas to hungry parade attendees during Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA community member offers up food to all who pass by during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA community member offers up food to all who pass by during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYYouth eat some of the snacks offered by community members during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA man offers some drinks to Calgary Fire Department firefighters during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSikh RCMP and Calgary Police officers pose prior to the start of the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYMartial performers show off some of the Sikh martial arts during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYMartial performers show off some of the Sikh martial arts during the Nagar Kirtan parade in the community of Martindale and Castleridge in Calgary on Saturday, May 13, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
