Stockton Sikh Temple’s 27th Nagar Kirtan parade, also known as the Sikh Parade and Festival, will take place Sunday, April 19, in Stockton.
Each year, more than 19,000 people attend the parade, located at the historic landmark Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, also known as the Sikh Temple, to observe and celebrate Vaisakhi.
The temple is located at 1930 Sikh Temple St. Admission to the parade is free.
This year, the parade will begin at 10 a.m., leave at noon and return to the temple by 4:30 p.m.
In Sikhism, Vaisakhi honors a pivotal moment in the evolution of the religion more than 300 years ago, when the 10th in a line of Gurus — or spiritual leaders — unified Sikhs and formalized many aspects of the faith, according to USA Today.
Stockton, which has the largest Sikh population in California, is home to the first Sikh Temple established in the United States.
At last year’s parade, students of the Sikh martial art Gatka put on a demonstration, and free food was distributed to spectators.
At the April 14 Stockton City Council meeting, Mayor Christina Fugazi advised anyone attending the Sikh parade to arrive early.
“Sunday, you got to be in south Stockton, but get there early because there will be no parking,” Fugazi said.
At the meeting, April was proclaimed Sikh Heritage Month.
Tejpaul Singh, who accepted the proclamation, said Vaisakhi Sikh Heritage Month is a time for Sikhs to celebrate faith.
He invited all of Stockton to celebrate faith, courage and community.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Sikh heritage on display at Stockton’s storied Nagar Kirtan parade
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
