Young male and female Sikhs in Vaisakhi procession in Manor Park, London.

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Sikhs Vaisakhi processions every year in April celebrate the start of a new religious year and the foundation of the Khalsa in 1699. In these 'Nagar Kirtan' the Sikh congregation goes around the neighbourhood singing holy songs behind a decorated float containing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib - the Sikh scripture and guru. In 1699 the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, created the Khals by baptising five brave Sikhs, and these are represented in the processions by the Panj Piare (five beloved ones) who walk in front of the Guru Granth Sahib dressed in orange and holding swords. Others dressed in orange carry Sikh flags. Details of the celebration differ from Gurdwara to Gurdwara. This procession was from the Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar in Manor Park, London E12.

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Size: 5040px × 3347px
Location: Manor Park, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © Peter Marshall / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: congregation, east, festival, granth, gurdwara, guru, ham, khalsa, kirtan, london, manor, men, nagar, newham, orange, panj, park, piare, piyare, procession, religious, sahib, sangat, sikh, sri, vaisakhi, women, youm