Close X
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Largest Vaisakhi parade back in Surrey after 3 years, attended by an estimated 700,000

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 24 Apr, 2023 04:21 PM
  • Largest Vaisakhi parade back in Surrey after 3 years, attended by an estimated 700,000

One of the most anticipated multicultural events of the Lower Mainland the Surrey Vaisakhi Parade was celebrated over the weekend after a 3 year pandemic hiatus. 

Canada’s largest Vaisakhi Parade outside of Punjab, India took place on Saturday, April 22, in Surrey, and was attended by 700,000 people. 

Vaisakhi is a significant festival in Sikhism and Punjab, commemorating the harvest season and the birth of the Khalsa, the community of baptized Sikhs. The festival has gained prominence in Canada, especially in British Columbia, home to the largest Sikh population outside of India.

Surrey residents were excited to be a part of the parade once again and dressed up in colourful traditional attire. 

The parade route started at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, one of the largest Sikh temples in North America, on 128th street and 85th Ave, and wound through the streets of Surrey, attracting participants and spectators from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.

Road closures were in place from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm on the day of the parade. 128th Street was closed and detours were in place between 72 Avenue to 88 Avenue, and Scott Road to King George Boulevard.

The colorful and vibrant community event started building around 8:30am and saw volunteers and local businesses enthusiastically handing out treats and food to attendees in order to make it an enjoyable and memorable experience. 

To ensure the event ran smoothly  Surrey Fire Service, Surrey RCMP, Surrey Police Service, Surrey Bylaws and BC Ambulance Service were also on scene.

High profile politicians such as Premier David Eby, Opposition leader of the BC United Party, Kevin Falcon, and MLA Jinny Sims were in attendance at the parade. 

The Darpan Magazine team was at the parade in full force and parade goers were eager to pick up a copy of the special Vaisakhi issue of the magazine. 

Darpan Magazine hopes to see more of you take part in the Vaisakhi celebration next year. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Wind, snow hit parts of B.C. for another day

Wind, snow hit parts of B.C. for another day
Strong winds continue to buffet parts of coastal B.C. and the central Interior, packing gusts of at least 110 kilometres per hour along the north and central coasts, pushing wind chill factors in Terrace and elsewhere to -20 or lower.

Wind, snow hit parts of B.C. for another day

Relentless toll for overdose deaths: BC Coroner

Relentless toll for overdose deaths: BC Coroner
The service says 171 people died of toxic drugs in September, bringing the total for the year to 1,644, the largest number ever recorded for the first nine months of a calendar year.

Relentless toll for overdose deaths: BC Coroner

Immigrants successful at finding jobs in Canada: Survey

Immigrants successful at finding jobs in Canada: Survey
Immigrants who arrived in Canada over the past five years had an employment rate of 70.7 per cent, a higher rate than October 2019, pre-pandemic, the Labour Force Survey data 2022 released by Statistics Canada said.

Immigrants successful at finding jobs in Canada: Survey

Health ministers meeting in B.C. this week

Health ministers meeting in B.C. this week
The meeting comes after Canada's premiers met in Victoria last July, where they asked Ottawa to boost the Canada Health Transfer, the money each jurisdiction gets for health care, to 35 per cent, up from what they said amounts to 22 per cent.

Health ministers meeting in B.C. this week

Playland invests $9M in Canada's fastest new roller coaster

Playland invests $9M in Canada's fastest new roller coaster
The new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch coaster will occupy the previous location of the retired Corkscrew Coaster, and construction will begin in 2023 with opening targeted for 2024. This is the largest single attraction investment made by Playland and signals a bright future for Playland.

Playland invests $9M in Canada's fastest new roller coaster

Bears in Squamish attacks won't be captured

Bears in Squamish attacks won't be captured
The Squamish Estuary trail network, a conservation area next to the mountain community's downtown centre about 60 kilometres north of Vancouver, will be closed until further notice. Bears are stressed at this time of year, as they seek food ahead of denning, which is expected in a few weeks as the weather cools.

Bears in Squamish attacks won't be captured