A huge heartwarming, inclusive celebration, organised by the Sikh community in Gravesend. Vaisakhi marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh, in the Punjab calendar, traditionally celebrated on the 13th or 14th of April. This event on Saturday the 12th, was part of a full programme of activities organised by the community, centred around the Gurdwara . The description below is from the Gravesend Gurdwara website.
“Gravesend’s Sikh community comes together every year to host one of the most impressive Vaisakhi events in the UK. The celebrations are centred around the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, one of the largest and most architecturally stunning Gurdwaras in Europe.
One of the highlights of Vaisakhi in Gravesend is the Nagar Kirtan, a religious procession that winds through the streets of the town. It is a vibrant, colourful parade led by Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, carried on a beautifully decorated float. Devotees sing hymns (kirtan), and traditional Sikh martial arts demonstrations, known as Gatka, are performed along the route.”
Vaisakhi is celebrated by many as a spring harvest festival, that closely ties with the shared community values of equality and humanity of Sikhism.
There is an excellent video on the history of the Sikh community and the Gurdwara in Gravesend made by Cohesion Plus below, including the establishing of the first Gurdwara in a community members house in 1957.
We traveled up from Brighton via train and arrived in Gravesend just before 11.00. Crowds of people are already making their way to the Gurdwara, which is about ten minutes walk from the station. It’s great to hear music echoing around the town as we head off.
There are huge crowds around the Gurdwara, many people dressed in Indian clothing. Laila says she recognises styles regional to northern parts of India. The Nagar Kirtan parade heads off through town, led by several large floats, with live devotional songs being performed by groups on the floats. It’s estimated there are over 10’000 people in attendance, all coming together with a real sense of shared community spirit.
As the procession weaves through town, the streets are lined with food stalls, dishes are handed to people as they pass. There are samosas, bhajis, bowls of chana masala, sweets, cups of chai and falooda, sandwiches and a range of other snacks. All of the food is really good, and importantly given freely by the community. If you’re heading to Vaisakhi another year, make sure you do not eat beforehand. Also worth noting, especially considering the vast number here, there is virtually no litter and no pushing, or stress, it’s all very relaxed and feels like a pleasant stroll with a few thousand folk, sharing the welcoming atmosphere. We pass the famous Virdee Stores, the Southeasts first and possibly most well know Indian sweet shop. A guy from the shop welcomes us and says the shop has been here for over 50 years.
The route eventually ends back in the grounds around the Gurdwara were there is a huge Mela (festival) gathering, with community stalls representing everything from mental health work, sports, human rights activist, the Police and Fire Brigade, plus a few more. There’s also food, live music and speeches from local community members, including people from the Gurdwara, local MP, Mayor and Deputy Lieutenant, representing the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, who represents the King in Kent. The atmosphere is warm and vibrant and it’s easy to get chatting with folk. We share a big plate of chana masala, roti and a really nice paneer pickle.
Overall it’s a really special day. In addition to the warm community atmosphere, there are some uniquely positive elements to the event; significant, especially for an event on this scale, there is no alcohol, tobacco or vaping, which are forbidden in the grounds of the Gurdwara, across the festival site and not allowed in the Sikh faith. This makes for a pleasant change compared to many large events in the UK, it’s refreshing to be in a space without them.
Also, especially given the scale if the event, everything is run by volunteers, and is not monetised. There are a few stalls where you can buy books or merchandise, mostly from charity and/or educational organisations, but everything else if free and run by volunteers, including the exceptionally tasty food.
Sewa, the concept of selfless service performed without expecting any reward is prevalent in Sikhism, but also not uncommon in wider Asian communities. It’s something Laila grew up with in Gadchiroli and is still very much present there, as well as when we attend Ismaili Muslim events in the UK.
I can’t think of anything that quite compares in the UK, the nearest in terms of scale being when we were lucky enough to be in Istanbul for Eid last year, as thousands gathered around the Hagia Sophia to break fast at the end of Ramadan, with a similar spirit of sharing, with free food provided by the city council.
Before we leave, we sit and admire the Gurdwara, which is the largest in Europe. An older guy tells us he remembers coming to Vaisakhi celebrations in Gravesend since he was a child, and the time when this Gurdwara was being built, with specialist builders having to come from India. We leave around teatime, full with food and happy memories of the day and the people involved.
Soundscape from the Nagar Kirtan, (religious procession) through Gravesend, on April 12th 2025 as part of the Sikh community Vaisakhi celebration. The first 10 minutes are during the procession, the final minute from the Dharmic Mela (Fair/Festival) in the grounds of the Gurdwara after the Nagar Kirtan.
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