Thousands celebrate Vaisakhi in city park

Eleanor Lawson

BBC News, West Midlands

6 May 2024

Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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Nearly 40,000 people attended the Vaisakhi celebrations in Wolverhampton's West Park on Sunday
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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A convoy of bikers celebrating the event
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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A drummer at the celebrations in Wolverhampton
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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There was a parade before the festivities at West Park
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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The event was organised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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A tractor was even part of the festivities
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
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The parade started at the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara on Cannock Road
Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council
Image caption,
City of Wolverhampton Council is eager for feedback about the event

Almost 40,000 people attended Vaisakhi celebrations in Wolverhampton on Sunday, according to the city council.

The annual celebration took place in West Park after a parade from the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara which started on Cannock Road at 09:00 BST.

Entertainment included a fun fair, stalls and Asian musicians performing live on stage.

There were also speeches by religious leaders, a variety of local organisations showcased their services and free food was served throughout the day.

City of Wolverhampton Council

The festival celebrates the founding of the Sikh community

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and is marked on 13 or 14 April every year.

The spring festival celebrates the founding of the Sikh community in 1699.

Vaisakhi has been a harvest festival in Punjab, northern India, for centuries, even before it became so important to Sikhs.

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa - the collective name given to Sikhs who have been baptised.

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