Spring weather in the Cariboo cooperated for the Western Singh Sabha gurdawara's Vaishakhi celebrations on May 3.
While the Saturday saw snowflakes falling in parts of the region, the sun came out for much of the outdoor celebrations at the Sikh event, which invites the community to gather and celebrate, and eat.
A welcoming event providing a chance for the community to come and see Sikh ceremony, enjoy some delicious food prepared by the community, and learn about Sikhism.
The ceremony includes the cleaning and re-wrapping of the flagpole and installation of a new flag known as the Nishan Sahib. Members of the community carefully wash the flagpole and then sheath it in saffron yellow fabric and tied on with saffron ribbon.
Never allowed to touch the ground out of respect, the flag and flagpole symbolize the gurdwara as a place of sanctuary where people can find food, shelter and sanctuary from persecution.
People of all religions are welcome at Sikh gurdwaras (temples) and Vaisakhi is an opportunity to experience the Sikh religion, as it is an event of cultural and religious significance.
Vaisakhi marks the creation of a spiritual order in 1699 called the Khalsa for Sikhs as well as marking the beginning of the spring harvest in Punjab and the first day of the Hindu solar calendar.
While Vaisakhi's actual date is on April 13 or 14, gurdwara's around the province take turns celebrating the festival in order to share the resources of the musicians and holy men who travel to ceremonies.
During Vaisakhi, the Sikh 's holy text called the Guru Granth Sahib, is read continuously starting on the Friday and going until Sunday, visitors can take part in prayer, communal meals and the ceremony of raising the flag and honouring the five chosen ones who were the first of the Khalsa warriors.
