Sikh community gathers for Vaisakhi celebrations

A parade set off from Gravesend Gurdwara on Saturday morning

About 10,000 people have joined a colourful parade in Kent on Saturday to celebrate Vaisakhi.

Gravesend has one of the largest Sikh communities in the south-east of England.

Participants are enjoying music, performances and traditional food at the town’s Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.

A spokesperson said they "welcome members of all communities to come and join in the celebrations.”

Vaisakhi is the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699.

The procession through Gravesend left the Gurdwara site at 11:30 BST and is expected to return mid afternoon.

It is led by flag bearers, followed by the holy Sikh scriptures on a special model of the Golden Temple.

There are rolling road closures in place while the procession follows the route.

Prayers have been taking place inside the Gurdwara

A festival will later take place in the grounds of the Gurdwara, with singing and music, a funfair and stalls.

Gurdwara president Ajaib Singh Cheema said : “We congratulate everyone on the 325th anniversary of the foundation of the Khalsa, when the first five Sikhs were initiated by Guru Gobind Singh."

Jagdev Singh Virdee, general secretary, said: "We expect over 10,000 people to attend, with the weather predicted to be bright and sunny.”