Prince George's Sikh community marked Vaisakhi on Saturday with a celebration of food, music, dance and a demonstration of traditional martial arts.
The celebration began with a Nagar Kirtan - a traditional parade -from the Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple on Davis Street to CN Centre.
Bally Bassi, one of the event organizers, said Vaisakhi marks the beginning of the harvest season and the anniversary of the formal foundation of the Sikh faith by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
"It's about celebrating and sharing food," Bassi said. "And about sharing our knowledge."
Vaisakhi celebrations have been held in Prince George since 1999, and have grown substantially in the last seven years, Bassi said.
"It's getting bigger and better every year," she said. "It's amazing. We're seeing a lot more of the community coming out."
Hundreds gathered to take part in the parade and celebration at CN Centre.
"We're catering [at the food tents] for approximately 1,500 and we're just about at the last of that," Bassi said.
The Khalsa School Gatka Team from Surrey brought a demonstration of Gatka -a traditional Indian martial art often associated with Sikhism - to the event.
Teachers Onkar Singh and Gian Singh, and 50 students demonstrated techniques with the talwar (curved sword), chakra (weighted net), gurj (spiked flail), urumi (flexible whip-like sword), staffs and shields.
Onkar Singh said Gatka is an integral part of the Sikh community and identity.
"The Sikh community is a martial community," he said. "Always Sikhs, who were living in the Punjab [region of northern India] were like a wall to [invaders]. In the past this was how we always protected our community, our faith, our people."
Practicing Gatka provides a positive outlet for young people and "connects us with the gurus," he said.
Singh wowed the crowd with a demonstration of his skill as a swordsman by slicing a banana out of the mouth of a student, carefully stabbing an apple laid on the chest of a prone student and chopping a banana resting on a student's shoulders in half - all while blindfolded.
Mayor Shari Green, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Shirley Bond, MLA Mike Morris and Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk took part in the parade and celebration.
Green thanked the Sikh community for hosting the event and welcoming people from all walks to life to take part.
"To everybody who has come from the Sikh community, you put so much positive energy into this event," Green said.
Vaisakhi is an opportunity to celebrate B.C. and the city's diversity, Bond said.
"The most touching thing was seeing families along the parade route waving and honking in support of the Sikh community," Bond said. "We're proud that Prince George is a welcoming and inclusive community."
