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<\/p>\nCalgary\u2019s Sikh community is celebrating Nagar Kirtan on Saturday, with a parade and celebration expected to draw crowds of more than 80,000 people.<\/p>\n
The parade begins at the Dashmesh Culture Centre at 9:30 a.m. and ends at Prairie Winds Park, where festivities including food, vendors, speakers and singing of religious hymns will take place throughout the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event is a celebration of Vaisakhi, a major Sikh festival that commemorates the birth of the Khalsa tradition, an initiation or baptism ceremony. The Nagar Kirtan, which involves a procession singing religious hymns and distribution of food into the community, highlights Sikh values including peace, unity and community service.<\/p>\n
Ranbir Singh Parmar, chair of the Dashmesh Culture Centre, said the event is an opportunity to share a Sikh celebration with the greater Calgary community.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The) energy is great,\u201d he said. \u201cWe spread the message of love, equality . . . We like to welcome everybody (to) just try it out. It\u2019s gonna be fun. I hope everybody\u2019s going to like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Khalsa tradition, he said, began in the year 1699 as a challenge to the caste system at the time, signifying the equality of all people and a fight against injustice.<\/p>\n
This year will be the 28th annual Nagar Kirtan in Calgary, and Singh Parmar said the numbers grow each year. A majority of attendees are part of the Sikh community, he said, but many members of the Hindu and Muslim communities also attend, and all Calgarians are welcome.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A man at the Nagar Kirtan festival at Prairie Winds Park on May 11, 2024.<\/p>\n
The event, which is one of Alberta\u2019s largest parades, takes months of preparation, he said, all of which is done by volunteers.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s parade will also be attended by Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who will be in attendance at 2 p.m. and Premier Danielle Smith will also be at the event.<\/p>\n
The city of Calgary partners with the Dashmesh Culture Centre each year to help ensure the event runs smoothly and safely, providing emergency personnel and assisting with traffic control, parking and transit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Traffic, parking and transit impacts<\/p>\n
Given the scale of the event, those travelling in northeast Calgary on Saturday can expect road closures and detours, parking restrictions and changes to bus routes or stop locations.<\/p>\n
Some areas of Prairie Winds Park will also be closed for the weekend, including the north and south parking lots from May 8 to 11, the tennis courts from May 8 to 10, and the cricket pitch from May 6 to 12.<\/p>\n
Road and lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Full road closures include:<\/p>\n
Martindale Boulevard N.E.\u00a0between\u00a0Martinbrook Road N.E.\u00a0and\u00a0Falconridge Boulevard N.E.<\/p>\n
64th Avenue N.E. between Martindale Gate N.E. and Falconridge Boulevard N.E.<\/p>\n
Castleridge Boulevard N.E. between Falconridge Boulevard N.E. and Westwinds Crescent N.E.<\/p>\n
54th Avenue N.E. between Castleridge Boulevard N.E. and Westwinds Drive N.E.<\/p>\n
Falconridge Boulevard N.E. will be reduced to one northbound lane between Taradale Drive N.E. and Martindale Boulevard N.E., and between Castleridge Boulevard N.E. and Falconridge Drive N.E. No southbound traffic\u00a0will be permitted south of\u00a0Taracove Estate Drive N.E.<\/p>\n
Parking restrictions along and near the parade route will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and will be clearly marked with temporary signs at least 12 hours beforehand. The city said parking restrictions ensure the safety of attendees and access for emergency vehicles, and reduce congestion for residents in the area.<\/p>\n
There are no public parking lots near the parade route, so attendees are encouraged to use transit. If driving is unavoidable, plan to arrive early and be prepared for a longer walk.<\/p>\n
Calgary Transit is offering free shuttle service to the event<\/a> from several neighbourhoods, including Coral Springs, Cornerbrook, Cornerstone, Chestermere, Panorama, Saddleridge, Skyview Ranch and Temple.<\/p>\n Additional transportation and event safety information can be found at the city of Calgary\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n