Woopi News - Vaisakhi 2024

The annual Vaisakhi Parade is set to wind its way through the streets of Woolgoolga, celebrating the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa. This year, the festival will take place on Saturday, 13th of April.

The festival’s history dates back to 1699 when the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, came out of a tent carrying a sword and asked for anyone who was prepared to give their life for their religion to step forward. A young man stepped forward, and then Guru Gobind Singh asked for another volunteer four times until five Sikhs had gone into the tent. Guru Gobind Singh then baptised all the men into the Khalsa, meaning the “Pure Ones”. They became the first members of the Khalsa, named the 5 beloved ones.

Sikhs celebrate the Vaisakhi festival by going to the Gurdwara in the morning for a service. Then they have a Nagar Kirtan procession which involves taking the holy Sikh Scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji through the streets to bless everyone in its path while singing and chanting in a colourful spectacle.

The parade will begin at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, River St and will travel down High Street, Gordon St, Nightingale St, Nelson St, Queen St and Beach St, stopping temporarily at the Centennial Oval. At the oval, the community is invited to come together and enjoy Sikh Martial Arts, singing, and traditional Punjabi food. It’s a spectacular sight full of colour and wonderful traditions, and everyone is welcome. So feel free to line the street to wave them on and join everyone at Centennial Oval.

The parade is set to start around 10am, and the procession is expected to reach Centennial Oval sometime between 12pm to 1pm for about 1 hour. The Parade will then restart and will travel to the First Sikh Temple in Hastings Street, finally finishing up back at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in River Street at around 3pm.

• photos Robert Watkin