Leicester's Vaisakhi celebrations welcome in thousands despite heavy rain

Thousands have attended Leicester’s major Sikh festival celebration of Vaisakhi. Huge crowds still turned out for the Vaisakhi procession despite heavy rain.

The event, which is one of the biggest religious festivals in Sikhism, was marked in style on Sunday (April 28) as the holy festival of Vaisakhi was honoured through the annual Nagar Kirtan procession. The vibrant and colourful event still brought in thousands of Sikhs despite poor weather conditions making things soggier than most would have wanted.

The parade kicked off at the city’s Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones before filing through the city centre and concluding at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara on East Park Road. The rainy conditions didn’t deter organisers from putting on a show of colour and noise, with flags galore and motorcycles from the Leicester-based Sikh Motors Club forming part of the parade.

READ MORE: Two rescued from submerged car at notorious flooded Leicestershire bridge

The event is one of Leicester’s biggest cultural events and regularly brings people together to witness the stunning parade and displays. Music and a Sikh Martial Arts Display also formed part of the events as it passed by the city centre’s Clock Tower before reaching its destination.

The parade follows the holy festival celebration day itself which was held on Saturday, April 13. Vaisakhi marks when Sikhism was solidified as a faith at the formation of the Khalsa in 1699. It came after the 10th guru of the religion Dhan Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji challenged the people of Punjab with a sword to go into the tent if they were prepared to give their life for the Sikh religion.

The challenge was the beginning of Sikh baptism, with five men stepping forward into the tent. Only Guru Gobind Singh emerged with blood on his sword and despite fears the men had died, they hadn’t and reappeared alive and well and wearing Turbans. The group became known as the ‘Beloved Five’ who were then baptised into the Khalsa.

The five were sprinkled with amrit by Guru Gobind Singh. This act formed the basis of what is now the Sikh baptism ceremony. It is marked to this day, with many Sikhs choosing to get baptised on Vaisakhi as a sign of devotion to their faith.