Sikh community puts final touches on this weekend’s Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

May 14, 2026 | 4:38 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Local members of the Sikh community are putting the finishing touches on preparations for this weekends Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan which will draw thousands from inside and outside of Prince George to celebrate.

Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan is a vibrant, communal Sikh religious procession held globally to celebrate Vaisakhi which commemorates the birth of the Khalsa in 1699. With between four to seven thousand people expected from all over British Columbia and beyond, preparation is key. Putting on an event of this magnitude requires an enormous amount of organization with preparation beginning at the beginning of the year with a large group of volunteers preparing floats, decorations, traffic plans, public safety and of course cooking enough food to feed thousands.

“We’ve had approximately over 2000 volunteers putting this event together. As for the number of meals we will have probably close to 40,000 servings ready that day.” said the Coordinator at Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Society Rashpal Kaur Bains.

The 2026 Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan will take place Saturday, May 16 at 10am with a parade procession from Guru Nanak Darbar which is expected to arrive at the CN Centre by noon before returning on the same route at 2pm. Once there community members will be submersed in everything the Sikh festival has to offer including signing, dancing, speeches, martial arts demonstrations and traditional South Asian cuisine.

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“It’s a beautiful presentation of colors. You will see a lot of a Sikh attire and younger kids getting involved. People are singing spiritual hymns. It really is a presentation of what unity looks like when community comes together. This is what it’s supposed to be like.” added Bains.

With many non Sikh visitors expected the aim is to strengthen community connections and promote unity.

“Everybody is welcome for this because we live in a community that’s very diversified. We welcome everybody to join us with the celebration and get to know about our culture and our heritage. This is about giving back to society and to the to the community through these kind of events.” said Dr. Tadbir Singh Sandhu the Director at Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Society in Prince George.

In keeping with the Sikh community’s wishes participants are asked to cover their heads with a scarf, turban or bandana and refrain from smoking, vaping or consuming alcohol during the procession.

by Nick Dube

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Sikh community puts final touches on this weekend’s Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

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