Annual Nagar Kirtan Parade Celebrated in Calgary

The annual Nagar Kirtan parade took place in Calgary on Saturday morning, bringing thousands of people together.

The event, hosted by the Sikh community is in celebration of a sense of community and equality. The parade is part of the festival of Vaisakhi, where devotees sing prayers, play music and chant hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib – the Sikh holy book – as the procession goes down Calgary streets.

The procession is led by the Saffron-robed Panj Piare (the five beloved of the Guru, who are followed by the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy Sikh scripture, which is placed on a float. The 2023 parade began at Dashmesh Culture Centre in Martindale and ended at Prairie Winds Park.

Speaking to CBC News, Raj Sidhu, director of operations with the Dashmesh Culture Centre says the event is the second largest in the city, after the Calgary Stampede. He said “the purpose of this is to bring the community together.”

Visit www.africanpridemagazine.com for more