Sikh community prepares for Vaisakhi celebrations

Thousands of people are expected to join the parade through Gravesend

Preparations for one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar have begun in Kent.

Members of the Sikh community will celebrate Vaisakhi next weekend, which marks when Sikhism was born as a collective faith in 1699.

About 10,000 people are expected to join a colourful parade through Gravesend and enjoy music, performances and traditional food at the town’s Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, one of the largest Sikh complexes outside of India.

Hundreds of people are meeting in Gravesend on Saturday for the first events.

Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara will be decorated for Vaisakhi

From 10:30 BST, people can watch martial arts displays and Bhangra dancing at Gravesend civic hall, before the Sikh flag is raised.

Jagdev Singh Virdee, the Gurdwara’s general secretary, said: “It’s very happy and joyous. It’s the start of the celebrations and most of the events are by young people.”

Gravesend's Vaisakhi celebrations are held from 12 to 14 April. The parade through the town is on 13 April.