Thousands celebrate Sikh festival of Vaisakhi

Wolverhampton's Vaisakhi celebrations will take place today in West Park.

The festival celebrates the founding of the Sikh faith more than 500 years ago.

The annual cultural event has been organised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton together with the Asian community and will include speeches by religious leaders.

There will also be a fun fair, Bhangra displays and Asian musicians performing live on stage.

A spokesperson for the Leicestershire Sikh Alliance has praised the "fantastic turnout" at today's parade to mark the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

Amandeep Rai said of today's celebrations:

"The turnout at today's Nagar Kirtan is fantastic, the atmosphere, the colour and the joyous spirit is inspirational. It's also good to see various dignitaries such as Jon Ashworth MP and Assistant City Mayor Rory Palmer in attendance."

Birmingham's Vaisakhi celebrations will take place today in Handsworth Park. The festival celebrates the founding of the Sikh faith more than 500 hundred years ago.

Two processions will set off from Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in the Jewellery Quarter and Sandwell at 10:30, heading to the park for the afternoon's celebrations.

Five Sikhs in full ceremonial dress will lead the processions carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Scriptures of Revelation.

In Leicester the parade will begin at 10:30 and end at 15:00, moving through the city to East Park Road.

READ AND WATCH: Thousands celebrated Vaisakhi in Wolverhampton last weekend

Thousands of people have celebrated the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi today. The festival, which fell last Monday, marks the day the Sikh faith was founded more than 500 hundred years ago.