'One big community': Toronto Sikhs to celebrate Vaisakhi together for the 1st time since pandemic
CBC
Gurpreet Singh has been in Canada since 2020, but Sunday will be the first time he'll celebrate the annual Sikh festival of Vaisakhi with the local community.
The 22-year-old international student came here from India during the first year of the pandemic.
But on his first Vaisakhi away from his family, instead of being part of the usual crowds of thousands in bright traditional clothing, he spent the day at home, talking to his relatives in India and exchanging sweets with the few friends that he could meet.
"I excitedly video called my family back home. Everyone was in beautiful attire ... Everything seemed very exciting," he said.
"I'm missing those events. I'm so far away from family right now, I'm living with my friends and so they are my new family now," said Singh.
For the first time in almost three years, Toronto's Sikh community will gather at Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate Vaisakhi, a spring harvest festival and a new year celebration for people of the Sikh faith. The event typically draws crowds in the thousands and usually includes parades where people march from the Canadian National Exhibition grounds to Toronto city hall.
Millions of Sikhs around the world celebrate Vaisakhi, traditionally on April 14, especially in India. But for many immigrants living in Canada, this will be their first time celebrating the holiday away from home.
Before coming to Canada, Singh and his family would celebrate Vaisakhi by travelling to Anandpur Sahib, a historic city that is extremely important to the Sikh faith, located 200 kilometres away from his hometown of Tarn Tarn, Punjab.
Singh recalls celebrations there as spirited and energetic with large gatherings dressed in traditional attire.
He's excited to celebrate his first Vaisakhi in Canada and hopes to have a memorable experience this Sunday.
"I'm expecting an energetic environment. I want to feel the energy in the people, which I have felt when I was back home," said Singh.
Many other international students share the same story, says Manjit Singh Parmar, secretary of the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council.
Parmar, who is also the organizer of Sunday's event, says he expects many international students to be there.
"This will be a focus for them to come together and celebrate," he said.
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