Manitoba's Sikh community brings downtown Winnipeg to life

Manitoba's Sikh community celebrated their culture with pride Sunday afternoon as thousands gathered in downtown Winnipeg for the Nagar Kirtan parade,an annual celebration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.

"This is a very big opportunity for us," said Sukhmani Kaur, who moved to Winnipeg in January.

"It's like a very proud moment for me and for every Indian."

The parade, which returned for the second time since a pandemic hiatus, drew about 25,000 people, according to the Winnipeg Police Service.

Jujar Brar, vice president of the Sikh Society of Manitoba, which helped organize the event, said the number of people who turn out each yearis a testament tohow much the Sikh population has grown in the province and a demonstration of the community's generosity.

"We're celebrating a very historical event in Sikhi, but also we are celebrating the home we found here in the city and in the province of Manitoba," he told CBCNews on Saturday.

"You can definitely see how our people have grown more comfortable and felt more at home here in the city," Brar said.

The parade beganat Memorial Boulevard and York AvenueSunday afternoon.The procession then travelleddown York and turned on Garry Streetbefore making itsway back to Memorial Park via Broadway.

A celebration also took place at the park,complete with free food for attendees, traditional Sikh musicand greetings from provincialpolitical party members. The Sikh community also presented a donation of more than $50,000to the Children's Hospital Foundation, Brar said.

For Parneet Kaur, who has lived in Winnipeg for more than five years, the celebration is an opportunity fornon-Sikhs to learn about Sikh culture.

Manitoba's growing Sikh community celebrates their vibrant culture in full colour

1 year ago

Duration 1:37

About 25,000 people gathered for the Nagar Kirtan parade in downtown Winnipeg on Sunday, a celebration commemorating the anniversary of the religion's holy book.

"I feel really great to see lots of people come here and show our culture to other communities as well," she said Sunday.

HS Chawla, who was part of a motorcycle procession that rode in front of the parade, agreed, saying he invited his non-Sikh friends to join to ask questions about the culture and meet new people.

"They form a Sikh parade to show the public what Sikhs are, how we live, how we dress," he said."It's very refreshing."