The Southall Vaisakhi parade, one of the biggest Sikh festivals of its kind in Europe, took place on Sunday 7 April 2019.

Worshippers gathered at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara on Park avenued in the morning, to take part in the Nagar Kirtan (procession) to celebrates the birth of the Khalsa and the harvest festival.

It marked the 550th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Sikh faith - Guru Nanak.

Before the procession started, there were short speeches by invited guests inside the gurdwara. The VIP guests included Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma, London Assembly Member Dr Onkar Sahota, Paul Scully MP, Conservative London Mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey, GLA Conservative candidate Cllr Gregory Stafford.

The colourful procession set off just after 11am and proceeded along the following streets:
Park Avenue
South Road
The Green
King Street
Norwood Road
Norwood Green Road

The road procession finished in Norwood Green Road. The people then go to the Norwood Hall sports ground for the rest of the Vaisakhi celebrations at around 4pm. There was some light rain but it did not deter or dampen the spirits of everyone there. Thousands of Sikhs attended or paraded through the streets of Southall.

It is always a trouble free event for all the family. All those attending are calm, considerate and in a happy mood. The procession route is covered with food stalls serving FREE food, fruit and drinks from 10am to everyone. For some food you have to queue up and for others it is handed to you as you walk along.

There are road closures and traffic diversions in place on all roads along the procession route. The road closures commence after 10:00 am and continue until after 4pm.

Even with thousands of people the atmosphere is ALWAYS friendly.

The actual Vaisakhi day will be celebrated on Sunday 14th April 2019.

Happy Vaisakhi

More photos are available at www.facebook.com/VisitSouthall