March 28, 2024

About 140,000 expected for Surrey’s celebration of Vaisakhi

A collosal crowd is expected in Surrey Saturday to celebrate the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi.

RCMP Corporal Drew Grainger pegs numbers for the festival and parade at about 140,000.

He says several roads will be closed between 8 am and 5 pm.

“the area between 88th and 72nd Avenue to the north and south, and 123 all the way over to 132, between east and west — that area is going to be pretty much in a lockdown just to ensure the safety of the parade route.”

He says children can often get lost in the throngs of people.

So parents should take a picture of their child so mounties know who they’re looking for, and write down a cellphone number to give the child, so police can call someone right away if they find them.

There have been floats at past Vaisakhi parades with images depicting Sikh extremists.

But Grainger says RCMP are working closely with organizers and are confident there will be nothing controversial.

“we will review the floats just to ensure that there are no images that incite hatred or have any disturbing images on them.”

The parade is set to begin at 9:30 am at the Dasmesh Darbar Temple.

CKNW Vancouver News

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