The annual Sikh celebration of Vaisakhi is expected to be bigger than ever this year, with Bradford streets being transformed through a vibrant colourful procession on Sunday.

Drum rolls and a sea of orange will fill the city’s streets as the Nagar Kirtan – a Sikh custom involving the processional singing of holy hymns – takes place.

Last year’s event saw about 10,000 people gather to join in the celebrations which are held to remember the birth of the Sikh faith.

The parade will take place from 9.30am to about 2pm, taking in six Sikh temples in the city along the route.

The procession will be led by drummers from the Soul Asia Dohol Academy and members of the Houghton Le Spring Pipe Band and will set off from the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, in Grant Street, off Garnett Street and will end its parade here.

The procession will wind its way through the city taking in the Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwara, in Bolton Road, the Gurdwara Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, in Peckover Street, off Leeds Road, the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in Usher Street, off Wakefield Road and the Guru Ravidass Bhawan, in Brearton Street, off Manningham Lane.

Also in the parade will be five bearers of the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh holy flag, and a five-strong guard of honour.

The centrepiece of the procession, which will be displayed on a float, will be the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh holy book.

Each year Sikhs from across the county congregate in Bradford to celebrate the event.

Vaisakhi is the most important festival for the Sikh religion, both socially and on a religious level, and this year it celebrates its 314th anniversary.

It is both the Sikh New Year Festival and the anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa in 1688 by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

On April 13, 1699, the first day of Vaisakhi, the tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji transformed the Sikh community into the Khalsa Order or saint-soldiers.

Ranbir Singh Rai, president of the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, said: “I am expecting more people than ever this year.

“The event brings the community together with people from across Yorkshire.”