Surrey’s annual Vaisakhi Day parade was a record-breaker this year.
Upwards of 350,000 people gathered to celebrate at the event, which is among the largest Vaisakhi parade outside of India and in its 18th year. RCMP reported record-breaking attendance, according to event organizers.
Vaisakhi is one of the most important days of the year for Sikhs, a holy celebration marking the birth of the Khalsa fraternity, a new year and the Punjab harvest festival.
Photos: Vaisakhi Day in Surrey
Premier Christy Clark and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner were both spotted among the more than 350,000 people who attended Surrey's Vaisakhi Day parade Saturday. Vaisakhi is one of the most important days of the year for Sikhs, a holy celebration marking the birth of the Khalsa fraternity, a new year and the Punjab harvest festival.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey's annual Vaisakhi parade is the largest outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland.]()
Surrey's annual Vaisakhi parade is the largest outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
-
![Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.]()
Surrey, BC: April 23, 2016 -- The annual Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, BC attracted more than an estimated 200,000 people Saturday, April 23, 2016. The parade, the largest such parade outside of India, celebrates the Khalsa and is an important community and cultural event for Sikhs from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond.
“There are people of all cultures and religions, people of all ages, coming together in a very family-orientated day,” spokeswoman Laura Ballance said.
“It’s been a wonderful day full of music and performance and food, of course. I think it’s fair to say that it’s been a very successful event again.”
The Sikh Motorcycle Club led the parade’s procession, which began at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple and included 19 floats representing local Sikh schools, community groups and humanitarian organizations, and one containing the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism.
Premier Christy Clark and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner were both spotted mingling with attendees at the event.
Ballance said the celebration’s young performers were a big hit, along with CIBC’s limited release of commemorative silver coins commemorating Vaisakhi Day.
She added that it was a joy to see the community come together for a “volunteer-driven event, that really is filled with so much pride.”
