Spirit Of Khalistan Everywhere at Surrey Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan!

The return of Canada’s largest Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday, April 22 in Surrey brought out a large crowd of over half a million people, largely the dominant local Sikh community. This year’s Khalsa parade saw the streets of Surrey come alive with the loud chants of Khalistan Zindabad and they were draped in the Kesri Khalistan flags as Surrey Sikhs gathered by the hundreds of thousands on a mostly dry but overcast Saturday afternoon along 128 Street. “Raj Karega Khalsa” chants were everywhere.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada 

SURREY – The return of Canada’s largest Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday, April 22 in Surrey brought out a large crowd of over half a million people, largely the dominant local Sikh community.

As usual, it was a safe and unified Sikh community event where generosity of spirit and tasty food was everywhere, bringing a smile to everyone including the City’s new mayor Brenda Locke who was all smiles to see the first Nagar Kirtan under her leadership come off without a hitch.

“Thank you to all participants, volunteers and local businesses who helped make the Surrey Vaisakhi Parade a successful event. With the power of our communities in Surrey, we will see continued growth and positive change in our city. Thank you to all the men and women who helped keep public safety a priority in Surrey, including Surrey Fire Service, Surrey RCMP, Surrey Police Service, Surrey Bylaws and BC Ambulance Service. I would also like to thank the City’s Parks, Recreation & Culture and Engineering departments for helping the city host a successful celebration. We look forward to hosting future events in our beautiful city, facilitating unity and connections worldwide,” Locke said in a press release this week.

This year’s Khalsa parade saw the streets of Surrey come alive with the loud chants of Khalistan Zindabad and they were draped in the Kesri Khalistan flags as Surrey Sikhs gathered by the hundreds of thousands on a mostly dry but overcast Saturday afternoon along 128 Street. “Raj Karega Khalsa” chants were everywhere.

With the recent incidents in Punjab and the oppressive way the Indian government dealt with the uprising, it has solidified the Independent Sikh homeland forces abroad, especially in Canada. While Khalistan as a reality maybe a distant hope and dream but in spirit – the Sikhs of Canada can already feel it at hand. 

Otherwise it was a great Vaisakhi gathering after a four year hiatus, with the generous spirit of the Sikh community of giving and serving humanity. Great to see the community gather and show unity and strength. 

The Khalsa Day parade typically sees more than 500,000 attendees, but organizers were originally anticipating upwards of 700,000.

“This is a moment for us to reconnect after three long years,and that’s why I think the crowds are so big. People are so excited to get back into that same kind of feeling and the underlying values of equality, respect, dignity,” said Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the Surrey “Nagar Kirtan” Khalsa Day Parade.

The event celebrates the founding of the Khalsa,and was built as a chance to gather to make political and social decisions while allowing the community and families to gather, explained Singh.

The Surrey event is the largest Vaisakhi parade in the world, according to organizers.

In preparation for the large-scale event, Cpl. Vanessa Munn said Surrey RCMP planned for months.

“We plan for all different scenarios and we have a lot of different kinds of contingency plans. We have police officers throughout the area monitoring everything. Overall, so far, it has been a very positive,very kind of uplifting day.” Cpl. Munn said.

Due to some wet weather in the afternoon, the crowds did not reach a record-breaking number. The crowds were pegged at more than 500,000, in line with previous years.