Sikh community will celebrate 23rd annual Vaisakhi Day parade after COVID-19 hiatus

Angelaydet Rocha, The Record
·2 min read
Amrik Singh Dhaliwal is a former president of the Stockton Sikh Temple.
Amrik Singh Dhaliwal is a former president of the Stockton Sikh Temple.

Thousands of Sikh devotees and spectators are expected to overflow the streets of Stockton as they come together to celebrate the 23rd annual Vaisakhi Day Parade on April 17.

The parade, which has not taken place for the past two years because of COVID-19, returns this year to the streets of Stockton.

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A recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, will kick off Sunday morning at the historical landmark at 1930 Sikh Temple St.

A procession known as Nagar Kirtan will start at noon from the temple. The procession will stroll the streets west on Fifth Street, north on San Joaquin Street, east on Washington Street, and south on California Street ending at 4 p.m. back at the temple.

Amrik Singh Dhaliwal, former president of the Gurdwara Sahib Stockton for 12 years and a Lodi grape farmer, said preparation and planning for the event takes about two weeks. When he was president, he would plan four months in advance.

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The Gurdwara Sahib Stockton is the first-ever Sikh temple established in the United States and one that attracts many visitors.

“There are about 10,000 Sikhs living in San Joaquin County and about 500,000 Indians in the United States,” Dhaliwal said.

The temple expects from 10,000 to 15,000 people this Sunday for the festival and parade.

"Sikhism is a way of life," he said.

Dhaliwal said for those attending the Gurdwara for the first time, some key protocols to follow are wearing a turban or headscarf; not bringing any type of drugs, being intoxicated or having any weapons; being a good civilian; and respecting everyone.

If you go

When: 12-4 p.m. April 17

Where: Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, 1930 Sikh Temple Street, Stockton

Admission: Free

Information: https://www.visitstockton.org/events/annual-sikh-parade-festival/

(4/13/22)Amrik Singh Dhaliwal is a former president of the Stockton Sikh Temple. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD
(4/13/22)Amrik Singh Dhaliwal is a former president of the Stockton Sikh Temple. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Sikh community celebrates Vaisakhi Sunday with annual Stockton parade