UNDER normal circumstances, Bradford would be the scene of colourful parades around this time of year, with large crowds gathering to celebrate Vaisakhi, the holiest day in the Sikh calendar.

But this year, despite Covid-19 restrictions beginning to ease, celebrations in the district will be held virtually, although the Guru Gobind Singh Ji gurdwara will be open for indvidual prayers.

For hundreds of years, Vaisakhi marked the harvest festival in Punjab, with communities coming together to pray for a bountiful harvest and to celebrate the year that had passed.

Since 1699, Vaisakhi has also commemorated the birth of Sikhism, and marks the formation of the Sikh order, also known as the Khalsa.

Vaisakhi is usually celebrated on 13 or 14 April every year, and sees parades take place across the world. With Bradford being home to a well-established Sikh community, the processions always bring a sea of colour - typically blue and orange - to the city's streets.

Known as Nagar Kirtan, the parades see the Sikh community chanting hymns and reciting scriptures through the streets, accompanied by music, singing and dancing.

People of all faiths and cultures are always invited to participate, and tents are set up at regular intervals, serving homemade Punjabi delicacies, free for all to enjoy.

Everyone is encouraged to dress in traditional, bright and colourful Punjabi clothing - with women wearing Punjabi suits and men wearing kurtas, as members of the Sikh faith celebrate and express their pride.

However, this year’s celebrations will look different, despite lockdown rules slowly being lifted.

In Bradford, most celebrations will take place virtually, while reflection will be even more of an important theme this year - after a tough 13 months - says Jagjit Singh Chaggar, a member of Bradford's Sikh community and a former pupil at Ermysted’s Grammar School in Skipton.

"Celebrating Vaisakhi as a community, as one, epitomises the centralised community ethos established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji - the tenth Sikh Guru - when he formed the Khalsa", he said.

"It visualises community, celebration, and progress, and these values are at the forefront of the collective consciousness, as Sikhs gather together to mark the occasion.

"This year’s celebrations, whilst muted, will still be carried out in unison across the world, not just in Bradford and Yorkshire."

This year's Vaisakhi also comes at a time of global protests - many led by Sikh, Punjabi farmers - with reforms made by the Indian Government in September last year, many argue, disenfranchising farmers and discriminating against India's Sikh minority.

"Voices have been unified for freedom and equality in the face of discrimination", added Jagjit.

"13 April also marks the chilling anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre", he continued.

"It has been 102 years since the unlawful execution orders enacted by General Dyer, where upwards of 1,000 Sikhs - men, women, children young and old - lost their lives following peaceful protests against the unfair powers of search, arrest and detention without warrant or trial in Punjab after World War One."

With coronavirus changing the way festivals and holy days are celebrated, Leeds Road's Guru Gobind Singh Ji gurdwara has outlined how Vaisakhi 2021 will look.

"The gurdwara will be open on Wednesday 14 April, on the day of Vaisakhi, for individual darshan (attendance), only from 8am until 6pm. 

"The sangat are reminded that, to allow as many sangat members as possible, you keep your visit short and you may be asked to leave to facilitate everyone.

"There will be a programme with five Sukhmani Sahib de Paath (prayers) throughout the day, and these will be broadcast live on our Facebook page.

"Please note that masks/face coverings are essential and that you sit together in family bubbles.

"Please refrain from congregating in communal areas and follow the instructions given to you by the sevadaars (volunteers)."