Calgary celebrates Nagar Kirtan ‘Vaisakhi’ parade after 2-year hiatus this weekend

Annual Nagar Kirtan parade in Calgary. (Photo: Dashmesh Culture Centre via Facebook)

By Rachneet Randhawa

Posted May 14, 2022 11:14 am.

Last Updated May 14, 2022 3:53 pm.

The annual Nagar Kirtan parade formerly known as the Vaisakhi parade is an annual event held in celebration as one of the most significant Sikh holidays.

In celebration of Saturday’s festivities, Calgary Transit will be offering free rides throughout the city for a 12-hour period on Saturday.

The waiving of all transit fares is in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 14 and includes all buses and LRT C-trains in all quadrants of the city as a courtesy of the Dashmesh Culture Centre.

Vaisakhi pronounced “Baisakhi” is normally celebrated on April 13 or 14 annually as a celebration of the Spring harvest in northern India and in communities around the world to bring about a sense of community and equality.

Vaisakhi commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa Panth in 1699 and Nagar Kirtan refers to the procession of the Sikh Congregation through the town singing holy hymns, according to the Dashmesh Culture Centre.

The parade is considered the second largest in the city after the Stampede Parade and one of the largest in the province, attracting up to 60,000 people in past events.

The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It begins at 10 a.m. at the Dashmesh Culture Centre Gurdwara in Martindale and will proceed to Prairie Winds Park.

Related Article: IN PHOTOS: Calgary’s Nagar Kirtan ‘Vaisakhi’ parade 2022

This year’s event is also going green and will be environmentally friendly encouraging everyone to take advantage of the free shuttle service, including walking or biking to Prairie Winds Park, disposing of all compostable plates and utensils appropriately and using the recycling bins on-site, says the Dashmesh Culture Centre.

There will also be shuttle buses for a handful of neighbourhoods including Coral Springs, Cornerstone/Redstone, Martindale, Panorama, Saddleridge, Skyview Ranch, Taradale, and Temple.

For more information on Saturday’s transit services including the community shuttle service, you can visit the Calgary Transit website.

–With files from Camae Marayag

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