The skies cleared on Saturday, April 12 for nearly 400 people to march the streets of Terrace to celebrate Vaisakhi and Khalsa Day.
The two-hour-long procession, also known as the Nagar Kirtan, started and concluded at the Skeena Valley Guru Nanak Brotherhood gurdwara after circling around the streets of Terrace's Southside. Nagar Kirtan is a Sikh tradition that translates to "singing hymns in the town or community."
Vaisakhi is a harvest festival which is celebrated across parts of Northern India. Vaisakhi also marks the establishment of the 鈥楰halsa Panth鈥� 鈥� a term used for baptized Sikhs by the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, during Vaisakhi celebrations of 1699 in Punjab, India.
"Beyond its historical and cultural aspects, Vaisakhi serves as a time for spiritual reflection among Sikhs," said Pankaj Sharma, who is a part of the committee at the Skeena Valley Guru Nanuk Brotherhood Society. "It encourages individuals to recommit to the core values of Sikhism: truthful living, selfless service (Seva), and devotion to the Divine (Waheguru). The festival is a reminder of the enduring relevance of the Khalsa鈥檚 principles in contemporary life."
"Everyone who I talked to and tried to explain about Vaisakhi event, they all listened to me with a smile on their face," he shared. "Everyone was shining at the event."
Among the dignitaries who attended were the Skeena-Bulkley Valley incumbent NDP MP Taylor Bachrach, Liberal candidate Inderpal Dhillon and Conservative candidate Ellis Ross.
A free langar was held at both the Gurdwara located on Medeek Avenue and the Miri Piri Khalsa Darbar.
"In the Sikh tradition, sharing food, particularly through the "langar" (community kitchen), is a cornerstone of our faith, emphasizing equality, service, and compassion, vegetarian meals are offered to all, regardless of background," wrote Kamal Buttar-Siemens on Facebook.
All proceeds of the donations given to the Miri Piri Khalsa Darbar went towards the Terrace View Lodge Senior Care Project.
With files from Prabhnoor Kaur