VIDEO: 6,000 attend Vancouver Island’s largest Vaisakhi celebration in Victoria
Published 12:15 pm Monday, April 27, 2026
It’s said that Sikhism was founded in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia, beginning with the teachings of Guru Nanak. His teachings emphasized devotion to one God, equality and service to others. It’s this core message that laid the foundation for a faith that would continue to grow, shaped by nine successive gurus.
The tenth and final guru, Guru Gobind Singh, played a defining role in shaping the faith as it is known today. He is best known for founding the Khalsa in 1699 during Vaisakhi – a major spring harvest festival and one of the most significant days in the Sikh calendar.
By creating the Khalsa – a community of initiated Sikhs committed to discipline, equality and courage – Guru Gobind Singh helped transform Sikhism into an organised community with a clear and distinct identity.
On April 26, the South Island Sikh community gathered at Victoria’s Gurdwara Singh Sabha Sahib to celebrate this year’s Vaisakhi.
Starting at 10 a.m., more than 40 stalls, run by local Sikh groups and family-owned businesses, lined Cecilia Road, offering a wide variety of Indian street food and cold beverages.
While the event celebrates Sikh faith and tradition, organizer Sapanbir Thind said the invitation extended to all residents, regardless of their differences.
“When you come here, people won’t ask you if you are Sikh,” he said. “They don’t care if you’re a man, if you’re a woman, if you’re poor or rich, or from which religion you are. The biggest message our guru taught us is about equality.
“What we are doing is to share our joy and our values with our neighbours.”
Food, Thind explained, is a way to connect with one another and share Sikh teachings of equality, justice, and selfless service, also known as seva.
Gurinder Sihota, whose husband and brother-in-law own Supreme Gutter Victoria, chose to attend the event to thank the community for their support.
“We are here today to help and give back to the community,” she said. “It’s just a way for us to get together as a family and all our friends and celebrate Vaisakhi, which is the start to a new beginning of each year for Sikhism.”
Offering a number of Indian classics, including golgappa, aloo tikki, papdi chaat and mango shakes, Sihota and her team had enough food to welcome the thousands of visitors attending the celebration.
“It’s so nice to have everyone together, and it’s not just our folks, it’s everyone in the community,” she said. “It’s a way for other people to experience our cultures and see them enjoying the food and meeting new people.”
Equally pleased by this year’s turnout, Thind estimated about 6,000 people attended the sixth annual Vaisakhi celebration, the largest of its kind on the Island. The crowd included Victoria’s mayor, leaders from neighbouring communities, local MLAs and dignitaries.
As attendance continues to grow each year, Thind said the message remains the same.
“We want to relay the message of our community to everyone that we are a peace-loving community,” he said.