Southall's Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan 2024
Mon 08 Apr 2024
The Southall Nagar Kirtan is one of the largest Vaisakhi celebrations in Europe and attracts thousands of Sikhs and people from various backgrounds to come together and celebrate this important Sikh festival.
The vibrant yearly Vaisakhi procession (nagar kirtan) commences at the Guru Nanak Road (Havelock Road) Gurdwara and concludes at the Park Avenue Gurdwara.
Local MPs, councillors, and the Mayor of London usually attend the Guru Nanak Road (Havelock Road) Gurdwara.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said "Here in London - we embrace and celebrate the diversity that helps make our city the greatest in the world. Incredible atmosphere in Southall today, where thousands of Londoners and visitors came together to celebrate ahead of the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi."
Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing Southall tweeted "Today in Southall Sikhs celebrated Vaisakhi with the famous Nagar Kirtan, showing off the best of us united in different faiths, compassion and tolerance."
Cllr Aysha Raza said "Another wonderful Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan as only Southall can, still the biggest & the best outside of India. In Ealing London we celebrate our diversity, it’s our greatest strength."
Another wonderful #Southall #Vaisakhi #NagarKirtan as only Southall can, still the biggest & the best outside of India, in #Ealing #London we celebrate our diversity, it’s our greatest strength. pic.twitter.com/HxoUIxVqVn
— Aysha S. Raza (@DrAyshaRaza) April 7, 2024
Cllr Cllr Monica Hamidi tweeted "London shines brightest when we come together to celebrate our diversity. Southall was alive with joy as we gathered to honour Vaisakhi, a beautiful reminder of the rich cultures that make our city truly remarkable."
Cllr Deirdre Costigan said "An amazing day in Southall celebrating Vassakhi. Thank you for such a wonderful day."
Rob Staines, a Travel Expert, tweeted "Vaisaki celebrations underway, marking the birth of the Sikh faith. Southall - aka Little India - is a truly wonderful pocket of West London, home to the biggest Punjabi community outside of India. Come visit and enjoy."
Jatender Heer said "The 2024 Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan today in Southall. An amazing experience as always."
"Defiance: Fighting the Far Right" airs on Channel 4
Starting today, a three-part Channel 4 series will explore the resilience of Britain's Asian community as they confronted a campaign of violence and murder perpetrated by the far-right. This is Southall's history.
"Here to stay. Here to fight."#Defiance: Fighting the Far Right examines the political & social struggles faced by Britain’s Asian community 1976-1981.
— VisitSouthall (@VisitSouthall) April 8, 2024
Series starts Mon 8th April at 9pm on @Channel4
Southall – This is our history@RoganProduction @rizwanahmed @groupm_motion pic.twitter.com/MJPyc5CnNX
How it started and how it’s going?
From the Southall National Front demo 1979
To today Nagar Kirtan.
One resident commented "Sadly one look at the social media posts about the festival shows right wing views rising with plenty telling us to ‘go back home’. Brexit has allowed these racist to voice their thoughts openly again."
"Which country is Southall in?"
"I remember when this was my country before the invasion."
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