It was a day for colour and culture across Walsall as thousands of worshippers came out to celebrate one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar.
Thousands of people took to the streets between three Gurdwaras in the town on Sunday to celebrate Vaisakhi, the annual harvest festival in the Sikh faith.
Vaisakhi was celebrated in the Punjab region of India as a harvest festival, but the event garnered a profound spiritual significance in the year 1699.
This was when the tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, chose to declare the founding of the Khalsa, which meant Vaisakhi has also been referred to as ‘Khalsa Sajna Diwas’ (the day of the Khalsa’s creation) within the community.
The parade in Walsall, which was organised between Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara (Walsall Caldmore), Nanak Sar Gurdwara and Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, saw traditional outfits, lots of colour, free food and drink and a mixture of traditional arts and crafts.
We’ve picked out some of the best photos from the day to show the colour, the culture and the flavours of Vaisakhi.
1. The parade heads down one of the main streets in Walsall
The parade heads down one of the main streets in Walsall | Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara (Walsall Caldmore)
2. Vaisakhi is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar
Vaisakhi is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar | Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara (Walsall Caldmore)
3. Thousands of people were out to see the parade and celebrate the event
Thousands of people were out to see the parade and celebrate the event | Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara (Walsall Caldmore)
4. There were stalls out across all three Gurdwaras
There were stalls out across all three Gurdwaras | Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara (Walsall Caldmore)