The scent of samosas and the beat of dhol drums filled the air as thousands gathered in South Vancouver on Saturday for the city’s annual Vaisakhi parade, which wound its way through the heart of the Punjabi Market district. Read More
The Sikh spring festival in Vancouver typically includes a parade with floats and traditional food.
The Sikh spring festival in Vancouver typically includes a parade with floats and traditional food.
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The scent of samosas and the beat of dhol drums filled the air as thousands gathered in South Vancouver on Saturday for the city’s annual Vaisakhi parade, which wound its way through the heart of the Punjabi Market district.
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Amid the vibrant atmosphere, Satwant Bunwait and her 20-year-old son, Arjan, stood outside their family store, Amrit Fashion, offering free cups of orange juice to passersby on Main Street.
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“It’s his birthday,” Bunwait told Postmedia News, as she watched her son extend the simple gesture to a stranger.
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“It’s the best time ever,” Arjan said. “It’s the free food, the culture — there’s just nothing bad, just pure celebration all around.”
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Saturday’s festivities began around 9 a.m. at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara on Ross Street. Streets were cordoned off as crowds filled the surrounding neighbourhood to take part in the nagar kirtan — a Sikh religious procession featuring singing, Scripture, and shared meals.
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The society expected close to 200,000 people to join the festivities on Saturday.
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For the Bunwait family, Vaisakhi has long been more than just a holiday — it’s a tradition woven into the fabric of their lives. They’ve been taking part in the festivities for over three decades, once operating a bustling vendor booth offering clothing and accessories as part of the celebration.
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“Back then, the parade was smaller, but business was bigger,” said Bunwait, who was dressed in a sparkly purple anarkali suit. “Now it’s the other way around. But Vaisakhi is still the happiest day of the year for me.”
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Observed by Sikhs around the world, Vaisakhi marks the spring harvest and the beginning of a new year. In Vancouver, the event is organized by the Khalsa Diwan Society and is one of the largest of its kind outside India. The largest is held in Surrey, which this year will take place next Saturday.
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For the Bunwait family, the celebration is also a reminder of how far they’ve come — and the community they’ve helped build along the way.
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Bunwait immigrated to Canada from India with her husband, Inderjit, in the 1980s. She remembers a time when everyday staples from back home were hard to find in Vancouver. “Now,” she said, gesturing to the lively market around her, “you can get everything here.”
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During Vaisakhi, volunteers from various community groups and businesses set up tents along the route and offer tea, sweets and vegetarian dishes to people passing by, a practice rooted in Sikh principles of seva, or selfless service.
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Bunwait’s husband, Inderjit, said the celebration was not just for people of Indian descent but the larger community. “Everybody is welcome here.”