Vaisakhi Festival — a celebration of Sikh and Punjabi culture — returns to Trafalgar Square this month.
The festival marks the beginning of the Punjabi New Year, and is celebrated in various events worldwide.
London's official Vaisakhi celebrations — on Saturday 16 April — take the form of a whole afternoon of entertainment, including martial arts performers, an exhibition featuring the work of Sikh artists, chefs preparing traditional dishes, and short films playing on a big screen.
A 10-piece marching band will kick off the celebrations with a bang, performing the Sikh hymn, 'Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Hai'.
Stalls highlighting Punjabi and Sikh cultural practices take over Trafalgar Square, with a chance to try turban tying and get stuck into arts and crafts projects. There will also be free food samples available for anyone wanting to try some traditional Punjabi delicacies.
Live music and recorded performances of Kirtan (a form of devotional singing, usually accompanied by musical instruments) by famous performers like Qi-Rattan and Manika Kaur will be broadcast on a big screen.
Demonstrators will also perform Gatka, an Indian style of martial art, in which participants use wooden sticks (also called 'gatka') in place of swords.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
Here in London the Sikh community makes a massive contribution to making London the greatest city in the world. One of the great things about London is we don't just tolerate difference, we embrace it, we respect it, and we celebrate it.
Vaisakhi Festival, Trafalgar Square, 16 April, 1pm-6pm. It's free to attend.
