Over 10,000 Sikhs will be celebrating the religious festival of Vaisakhi with a fun-filled parade through Coventry. It will be held in the city on Sunday, April 20.
In line with the Sikh philosophy of 'Vand Ke Chakna,' the procession will begin with a ceremony where a number of not-for-profit organisations will each receive £501. Charities chosen this year are the West Midlands CARE Team, the Stroke Association, Guru Nanak Aid, Nerve Tumours UK, and the Carers Trust.
Organisers say the city parade, which is known as the Nagar Kirtan, will be led by five Sikhs called the Panj Pyare. Drums will be played as the procession moves through Foleshill.
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Colourful floats will lead the parade which starts at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash on Harnall Lane West at 10am. Organisers say the route will go down Howard Street, Stoney Stanton Road, Cross Road and Foleshill Road before finishing on Harnall Lane West.
Refreshments will be served along the city route, and the procession will finish with stick fighting known as Gatka. Attendees have been asked to park at City College on Bath Street and Eden Girls School.
Organiser Hardeep Singh said: “Excitement is building. People ask why we spend so much time and money for one day, but in reality, the preparations up to and on the day itself allow people of all ages and backgrounds to contribute in their own way, big or small, where they may not normally engage, which is what makes it so special.”
Young Coventry Sikh Sharandeep Kaur Sahota was recently awarded a Good Citizen Award for her volunteering with the Carers Trust and the Midland Langar Seva Society. She told CoventryLive that she was 'thoroughly looking forward' to the Nagar Kirtan.
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