Vaisakhi Photo Gallery
Thu, April 17 2008
Manjit Sangha: “We congratulate the whole world on Vaisakhi. May there be peace and prosperity for everyone. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ke Fateh!”
Peter Singh: “I came all the way from Kamloops to see the festivities. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!”
Kanwaljit Singh of Surrey: “Happy Vaisakhi to the community!”
Sukhjinder Singh Parmar (L), Jagdeep Singh Gill (R): “Happy Vaisakhi to the community!”
Michelle Singh (L) and her close friend Tina Tumber (R) wish the community a “Happy Vaisakhi!”
Gurmokh Aujla from WIlliams Lake and his friend Kuldeep Vinning wish the community a whole hearted “Happy Vaisakhi!”
Kirsten Woodard (L) and her friend Sumone Pabla (R): “We both got in nice and early for this year’s parade, by 10 a.m.!”
Andrew Louis attends with his family on Saturday, “This is my third year in a row coming to the parade,” said Louis who lives down the street and in the neighbourhood.
Gurdeep Toor attends with his young children wishes everyone a "Happy Vaisakhi."
Gurdeep Ghatora: “Happy Vaisakhi to everyone!”
Lucky Suddi: “Happy Vaisakhi”
Inder Grewal, the scion of Punjab Sweet House on 72nd Avenue, spends a very busy day volunteering at the parade.
Simran Gill (R) and Simran Dhaliwal (L): “We are proud to represent our religion.”
Mandeep Singh came from Everett, Washington with his family, “Happy Vaisakhi to all, we are proud to be part of this community.”
Lakhbir Bhandal with son Janasheen: “Congratulations to the community!”
Virginia Grant from Surrey and her friend Carmon Henry (Coquitlam ), both enjoy Saturday’s festivities. “I live down the road,” said Virginia who is attending her first parade ever, “I’ve always wanted to see the celebration. There is so much food and it just smells so good!”
Vik Sandhu: “Happy Vaisakhi from the Sandhu family!”
Sepidah Arjmand (R) and Mina Razafsha (L) “Happy Vaisakhi from the Persian community.”
Husband and wife Arvin and Sanjita Kumar are happy to attend the festivites. Laughs Sanjita, “This is my husband’s first ever Vaisakhi.”
Kam Reddy: “Happy Vaisakhi to the community!”
Sister-in-laws, Nimmi Lehal (L) and Sandy Kooner (R) wish everyone in the community a “Happy Vaisakhi!”
Starting from 5 a.m. and going until 10 p.m., Babbar Tumber and his family and friends run a community kitchen that feeds an estimated 10,000 people over the course of the entire day. House specialty dishes include stir fried chick peas (seen here), vegetable curry, pilau rice, and piping hot jalebis.
Hardeep Bains, the manager for Scotia Bank’s Newton branch, and Malcolm Gordan, the district vice president of sales, leave their desks and spend their time volunteering at the Scotia Bank tent on 128th Street.
Devinder Singh hands out snacks to all passing by on Saturday.
David Poole, the senior vice president of Scotia Bank Yukon and B.C. Region, attends the parade along with Winnie Leong, the vice president for the Vancouver/ Central B.C. & Yukon District.
Originally from Williams Lake and now living in Coquitlam, Jas Parmar attends the parade with his three children. "Vaisakhi brings everyone together!"
Water and refreshment ‘seva’ is one of the ways volunteers help make the parade enjoyable. Lakhwinder Singh is one of many who donates refreshments during the course of the day.
Jaspreet Sahota (L), Gurdev Sandhu (C) and Harpreet Dhami (R) wish everyone in the Lower Mainland and B.C. a “wonderful Vaisakhi!”
While Surrey's Kanwar Rattanpaul, 27, believes strongly in "following the gurus' principles," he also has a sense of humour. On a recent trip to Jalandhar, India, he saw this 'Pure Punjabi' shirt and knew he had to have it. "Oh yeah, I got it for the parade," he says, chuckling.
While hundreds of traditional sweets were on offer, sometimes youngsters can resist the sweet, sticky alure of cotton candy. Here Harpal Jhawar, Tanvir Phagura and Jessica Soomal race to the finish, in this case a cardboard tube covered in pink stick.
"Oh yes, I'm very proud," says Surrey dad Manjot Singh Saran as he poses with his handsome son, Gurdip Singh, 6, who is wearing his ceremonial Kirpan with equal pride. "He'll grow up to be a strong warrior. But right now he's a little shy."
Young Tirath Gill, 5, may have got the balloon he was clamouring after, but he was not going to lose the frown until his mom took him to a sweets stand.
A Sikh RCMP officer takes a breather against his squad car as temperatures soar to the high 20s.
While the streets surrounding the Vaisakhi celebrations may have been closed to traffic last Saturday, Hardeep Singh Aujla, 5, was able to out manoeuvre the coppers! With his dad scrambling behind to keep up, Hardeep had the pedal to the plastic as he burned up the tarmac in his souped-up toy SUV.
A jewelry vendor prepares his wares in the early morning in preparation for the crowds to come.
Surjit Johal and his daughter Sahib Kaur arrive from Abbotsford to attend the festivities.
Amolak Singh Butter (L), and Gurbax Butter (middle) attend with Saudager Singh Brar (R) who commented: “The celebration is very nice, I enjoyed the parade. I am very impressed with the community, with the service they are performing. It makes me feel proud to be a Sikh.”
Recent immigrant Kashmira Dhaliwal says: “I appreciate the fervour with which the Sikh community celebrates Vaisakhi. The dedication is better than the people in India itself.”
Sarbjit Vinning expresses a winning smile along with a heartfelt "Vaisakhi greetings to everyone!"
Abbotsford school trustee Sat Gill (L) attends the celebrations with his dad (R)and well known TV personailty Hari Nam Singh Khalsa (middle).
"No special role, I'm just enjoying the parade like everyone else," says Surrey's Savraj Singh, 21, as he strolls down 85th Ave. in traditional attire.
Amanpreet Panesar (L) and Amrit Virdi (R): “We love the Sikh faith and are truly happy to be here!”
Gurkirpal Singh Johal: “Happy Vaisakhi to the community!”
Sisters Inderjit (L) and Sonia Dehal (R) remark upon the festivities. "Sikhi is my way of life," commented the sisters. "There is much to learn from being here."
Siblings Rajain Johal and Simi Bahd, originally from Kamloops, spend their day volunteering. Said Rajain, "It's our way of giving back to the community."
The closest thing to a nuclear explosion in a plastic cup, Mokhtiar Varan serves up icy-spicy Jaljira. Varan and five families serve up the Indian version of a virgin Caesar, extra-extra hot. "All vegetarian," says Mokhtiar. "No whiskey in there. No vodka." Adds his friend, Darshan Kainth, "It's a fun festival yes, but today we're celebrating the Sikh nation's birthday."
Displaying more pride than a safari load of lions, these boys may not wear the traditional Sikh turban, but insist they are out to, “represent!” Simran Dhaliwal, 18, Gagan Gill, 18, Indy Taggar, 19, and Simran Gill, 17, are Surrey boys and proud of it! “Surrey’s where it’s at!,” says Indy. “Surrey, B.C., man!,” echoes Simran. “We’re representing the community, we’re representing the new generation!,” adds Gagan. “Proud to be Sikh!,” they holler before catching sight of some young ladies and making off at a hurried clip.
The Rehal family from Surrey includes son Pav, daughter Gurnisha, Tejpreet and dad Bhupinder. "We come every year," says Bhupinder. "To see the the parade." And collect balloons for the kids.
Young Himmit Dhillon, 2, looks down at six-year-old sister Bani and wonders why the big kid gets to ride in style while mom Gurp and dad Sukh seemingly ignore the plight of the young roof surfer.
"I just got it here," says Harpawandeep Kang, 8, as she works on her roadside yo-yo techiques. "I haven't learned any tricks yet."
Sarbjot Singh and Rajwant Kaur prepare a delicious blend of chick peas, flour and spices. They have been serving food at the Surrey celebration for the last five years. “Try some, you’ll like it,” they coax.
Sarbjot Singh, handing out flyers for the Maayee Bhago Kids Association Punjabi-language program, has been given the task of handing out 100 flyers for the association’s language-through-play courses. “I’ve given out 15 only,” he says. “But I just started. I can speak Punjabi, but I’m going to learn to read it too, oh yes,” adds the Delta lad.
While Kulvir Aujla and wife Sukhi say Vaisakhi is a wonderful opporunity to catch up with old friends and celebrate the birth of Sikhism with the community, dad Kulvir admits it’s the shiny motorcycles that capture the fancy of the kids, son Bhavin Singh and, 7, and daughter Mira Kaur, 4. Bhavin says he's "not sure" if his mom will to let him get a bike like those rumbling past under the banner of the B.C. Sikh Motorcycle Association.
Young Ishan Bhinder, 7, is the family’s official videographer. The future Bollywood director is more than up to the task, as he chats without breaking away from his cinematic work. “I’ve got five, 10 minutes so far,” he says. “I’m filming the parade.” The Bhinder family — dad Sunny and mom Kamal — opened the Khaana Peena Restaurant on 85th Ave. just seven months ago. Judging by the eager lineup at their free-food kiosk, they’re certainly doing something right in the kitchen!
College girls Kimmy Panesar, Jaspreet Sangha, Shalvina Narayan, Karen Sandhu and Sukhi Sekhon take some time off from their studies to get all dressed up and hit the parade, where "reunions," "the food" and "just walking around" appear to be the best excuses for laying aside the text books.
“He’s having too much fun, too many goodies, too much chaos,” says mom Rita Kim of Langley, as son Tristan, 2, catches the action from his mother’s lap.
Keeping cool in the shade provided by their float, these two girls marvel at the colours and sounds of the Vaisakhi parade.
It’s all smiles as two little girls peer over the edge of a float. No doubt they have the best view as crowds scramble below.
Tarri Tiwana, Ritu Bhangu, Ram Sidhu and Mandy Sidhu pass out leaflets for Save our Daughters, an anti-violence coalition based in Surrey.
Volunteers slave over a sizzling pot of oil as bread triangles crisp into crunchy, delicious snacks for the crowd. “It’s best served with ketchup.”
During the week they work together at Altima Contracting. At Vaisakhi they are performing their Seva, or service, an integral part of the Sikh faith. To that end, Jagdeep Dhillon, 21, Sonu Bains, 21, and Harpreet Khaira, 26, hand out free plates of Chola Puri provided by their boss, Baul Atwal. Of course, Seva is not without its benefits, say the Altima boys, commenting on the number of pretty Punjabi girls passing by.
"Free Coke! Water! Cold drinks!" The kids at the drinks stand — Sunny Singh Dhona, Rupinder Johal and Gurinder Johal — are all giggles as they hand out chilled beverages. "We're all one family," says dad Harbhajan Johal. "They're here all day with no time to play!"
Sandeep Heer (purple shawl) and Kiran Bajwa — are all smiles Saturday.
With his mom off on a weekend getaway to Las Vegas and his grandparents lost somewhere in the swirling crowd, young Rohin Dhaliwal, 2, catches up on some quality time — and a tub of blueberries — with dad Mandeep Dhaliwal. “It seems like there’s more and more people here every year,” comments Burnaby lawyer Mandeep, whose son is a “little too scared” of the crowds and noise to crack a smile.
The Parwinder and Soomal families joined forces for a festive day out along 128th Street. Hardeep Soomal (far left) is on a two-week holiday from London, England. Perfect timing, she said, and perfect weather. “We just happened to be coming during the festival,” she says. “It’s also very big in London, but not this big I think. Happy Vaisakhi!”
Harminder Grewal, whose family is originally from Jatpura, plays with her daughter, Avnoor. It’s difficult to tell whether Avnoor is more interested in her balloons or the parade.
Family friends Jeetansh Sharma and Ravraj Deol, both 2, are double-trouble on this custom chopper parked at Lal’s Surrey Truck Tire Centre on 128th Street.
Sarup Kaur Sandhar could not resist getting a squeeze of 17-month-old cutie Amira Samra as the inter-generational duo made its way to “lots of good food” at the vendors tents.
Nealry 120,000 people gathered in Surrey for the Vaisahki celebration. In a random act of luck from Mother Nature, the sun shone down on the crowd, which enjoyed music, food and dancing.
Dancers perform to catchy bhangra beats opposite the main stage.
A grandmother holds her grandchild as the second float takes its position in the parade.
Baljit Singh with his family and his son, Gurshawn, in front.
Volunteers dip pieces of bread into scalding hot oil.
Aman Gill, Sandy Dhillon volunteer for the Pingalwara Charity.
Jasmine Girn (right), Preet Sandhu (center) and Joty Sandhu (left)
Harwant Singh Brar rides his trusty steed Dusty along the parade route
From his vantage point on a chair atop the roadway median, Surrey’s Gurdev Singh Bains is all smiles as he keeps a close eye on the parade action.
Sporting “Khalsa Untouchables” shirts and matching silver Khandas — the khanda is the emblem of the Sikh faith, symbolizing the four pillars of Sikh belief — these lads spent the day bombing around 128th Street on a custom go-cart. Eleven year olds Kirit Dosange, Jeevan Dosange, Karanjot Singh, Prabhjot Buttar, and Guramrit Dosange, 7, were surprisingly nice to each other, considering only one guy gets to drive.
Friends since kindergarten, Rupam Rishi and Moni Sandhu, both 17, are wearing Punjabi suits their mothers bought for them in India.
The Guru Granth Sahib, which serves as a living guru to Sikhs, is placed on a float adorned with flowers. The holy book is a collection of writings that emphasize the irrelevance of caste and race.
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