Vaisakhi Open Air Celebrations – Handsworth Park
The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham, supported by Birmingham City
Council, is once again organising Vaisakhi celebrations in Handsworth Park
on Sunday 27 April 2008.
Vaisakhi not only signifies the beginning of the Sikh New Year, it also
commemorates the formation of the Khalsa Panth (nation) by Guru Gobind
Singh Ji in 1699: the act that gave Sikhs a collective identity and unity
of purpose that remains true to this day.
Dr Payara Singh Bhogal from the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras comments,
“Everyone is welcome to join in the fun in this family friendly event at
Handsworth Park. We want to show the rest of the country we’re proud to be
Sikh and we’re proud to be British and Brummies.”
The event will feature two colourful processions, one starting from the
Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick and the other from the Dasmesh Sikh
Gurdwara in Lozells. The processions meet in Handsworth Park for a host of
ceremonial, culinary, musical and sporting activities.
Activities in the park include Sikh cultural activities, children’s area,
sports displays, live music, arts and heritage exhibitions and ‘langar’-
free vegetarian food.
The Vaisakhi celebrations start at 12pm until 6pm at Handsworth Park. The
park is an alcohol restricted zone. Visitors are asked not to smoke or
bring dogs into the festival area.
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