Stockton Sikh community will celebrate 25 years of the annual Sikh Parade and Festival
For 25 years the Stockton Sikh community has celebrated Vaisakhi every April.
This month is no exception.
On Sunday, April 14, thousands of Sikh devotees and spectators will overflow the streets of Stockton near the historical landmark of the Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, also known as the Sikh Temple, for the 25th Annual Sikh Parade & Festival.
A recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, kicks off Sunday morning at the temple, The Record reported in 2022. The temple is located at 1930 Sikh Temple St.
A procession known as Nagar Kirtan will start at noon from the temple. The procession will head west on Fifth Street, north on San Joaquin Street, east on Washington Street, and south on California Street ending at 4 p.m. at the temple, Amrik Singh Dhaliwal, former president of the Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, told The Record previously.
The Gurdwara Sahib Stockton is the first-ever Sikh temple established in the U.S.
Vaisakhi is one of the most significant and widely observed annual celebrations for Sikhs, who make up the fifth-largest major world religion, USA Today reported. It honors a pivotal moment in the evolution of the religion more than three centuries ago. When the 10th in a line of Gurus — or spiritual leaders — unified Sikhs and formalized many aspects of the faith, USA Today reported.
It's celebrated as a harvest festival in South Asia and the Punjab region of India, with Hindus also observing the celebration. It is sometimes also spelled as Baisakhi.
Read more: What is Vaisakhi? Everything to know about the important Sikh celebration this week
"There are about 10,000 Sikhs living in San Joaquin County and about 500,000 Indians in the United States,” Dhaliwal said in 2022. "Sikhism is a way of life."
Temple protocols
Everyone is welcome at the Gurdwara. The parade and festival are free and open to everyone in the community.
However, following key protocols is significant, especially for those attending for the first time. Dhaliwal said wearing a turban or headscarf; not bringing any type of drugs, being intoxicated or having any weapons; being a good civilian; and respecting everyone are required.
For more information on this celebration visit the Stockton Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) Facebook page.
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. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Sikh Parade and Festival Stockton
