In a colourful celebration that engages the senses, Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Sikh community will this weekend host an event that brings together all races and religions.

The Okanagan Sikh temple is putting on its sixth Vaisakhi parade Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

It害羞草研究所檚 an event that has grown exponentially each year, showing both development in the Sikh community and the bonds being forged with non-Indo Canadians.

害羞草研究所淭here are thousands that come,害羞草研究所� said Paramjit Philip Patara, president of the temple.

Vaisakhi, he explained, is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar.

It marks the harvest of winter crops in the Punjab region and the start of a new year. Farmers celebrate the fruits of their labour, give thanks and pray for prosperity in the future.

It害羞草研究所檚 also remarkable in the religion as it害羞草研究所檚 when the Sikhs gained a distinct identity.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a celebration of human rights害羞草研究所攖hat害羞草研究所檚 what it害羞草研究所檚 about,害羞草研究所� said Patara, explaining that religious strife in India hundreds of years ago gave way to the Sikh tenets, which focus on religious freedom.

害羞草研究所淭he Sikh community is about defending the defenceless and standing up for your own and other people害羞草研究所檚 rights. That害羞草研究所檚 the basics behind it. That害羞草研究所檚 what the celebration is all about.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 fitting, then, that so many from such different walks of life have come to embrace the celebration.

害羞草研究所淟ast year, my daughter brought her friend who is of Jewish faith and they were both in the parade,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Mohini Singh, who has connection to both the Sikh and Hindu communities.

害羞草研究所淎nd you should see my fellow councillors. They all come dressed in Indo clothing害羞草研究所�This is what Canada is about, though.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about coming together in respect and celebration of our cultures.害羞草研究所�

Singh has been in Canada for 25 years and she said the changes she has seen have been tremendous.

害羞草研究所淥ur buying power has increased, our numbers have increased, families have grown and we now have a generation of Canadian kids who were born here,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淣ow we are not the new immigrants. Most of us are established we have homes and we are able to live healthy balanced lives. 害羞草研究所�

An example of that change can be seen the agricultural community.

When she was a reporter, Singh used to head down to the South Okanagan, where Portuguese families owned many of the farms and orchards.

Now, she said, many farms are held by Indo Canadian families.

害羞草研究所淧unjabis have a natural attraction to the land and they love agriculture,害羞草研究所� she said, highlighting how the parade fits in with local culture.

害羞草研究所淭his parade is significant in that it shows how the community has grown and how we are taking pride in who we are. 害羞草研究所�

And many celebrations specific to the holiday will be on display during the Saturday event.

害羞草研究所淭here will be a lot of food along the parade, people will have stalls set up in their driveway, where they害羞草研究所檒l be giving away lots of things害羞草研究所攎ostly food,害羞草研究所� Patara said.

They even have an ice-cream truck giving away ice-cream for two hours.

Beyond the food, there害羞草研究所檚 also the parade which will feature Bhangra and Gidda dance by men and women respectively. This very popular traditional folk dance is performed in groups on the fast beat of dhol (drum).

Dancers perform everyday farming scenes of sowing, harvesting and gathering of crops through movements of the body to the accompaniment of a ballad.

害羞草研究所淓verybody is welcome害羞草研究所攅verybody in Kelowna,害羞草研究所� Patara said.

For more information about road closures caused by the event, check the website kelowna.ca/road report.