IN 2003 I completed a well-received stills project on the Vaisakhi annual march (Nagar Kirtan) in Bradford, for which I received a distinction.

This was as part of my Photography degree at Bradford College, as a mature student. It was presented to all Bradford Gurdwaras and I went on BCB Radio and Sab Rang Radio to promote it.

I decided last summer that I wanted to produce a film of this year’s march for Bradford Movie Makers and Bradford’s Sikh Community, and Bradford in general. This year I went on BCB Radio to discuss the project.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The parade is headed by a float and canopy The parade is headed by a float and canopy (Image: Submitted)

* What is Vaisakhi? Vaisakhi, is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival and is celebrated on April 13 or 14. It also commemorates 1699 - the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

* Nagar Kirtan: The festival is marked with Nagar Kirtan processions through the streets (Nagar means ‘town’) which form an important part of Sikh culture and religious celebration. Security for the march is well stewarded by the police and Sikh stewards.

* The Langar: Sikhs feed people worldwide 365 days a year as long as, entering the Gurdwara, you comply with Sikh customs; covering your hair, removing your shoes, not taking alcohol or tobacco in. This applies to Sikhs and none Sikh alike. You will be fed wholesome vegetarian food prepared with great care. The food is vegetarian to suit all religions. The Langar is staffed and run by all who are able to help. We were also fed in The Langar Community Kitchen.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Langar community kitchen feeds people all year round The Langar community kitchen feeds people all year round (Image: Submitted)

The parade is on Sunday - April 23, which is also St George’s Day. It starts at 10.30am at the Guru Nanak Gurdawara and lasts approximately five hours. There will be eight camera crew and two sound crew filming the parade.

The 2003 project was given to all the city’s six Gurdwaras, free of charge and free to distribute, and the same will be done with my film, and we will show it at any venue that would like to see it, as well as in the Bradford Movie Markers’ own 40-seat cinema.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Vaisakhi is the holiest date in Sikhism Vaisakhi is the holiest date in Sikhism (Image: Submitted)

I have a full crew ready and willing. The film will look good for Bradford’s campaign leading to its year as UK City of Culture 2025.

I have a narrator for the film and I would like someone from the Sikh community to introduce it. I will show a basic edit to representatives of the six Gurdwaras for their comments before the final edit.

We have a tight deadline to edit, but after it is edited and sent, a Punjabi narration may be be produced as well, for worldwide distribution.

I feel that Bradford’s Sikh community does not always get the credit they richly deserve. The Sikh community was very kind to me in 2003 and has been ever since. I have a close Sikh friend, Paul Chand, who has helped to facilitate this project. I could not have done the 2003 project without his input, guidance and friendship. I have filmed his family occasions for 30 years, including family funerals at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, so I am well used to filming there and respecting Sikh traditions.

On Friday, April 7 some of the film crew were invited to the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara in Bradford, where we met the committee and members of the Gurdwara. We were received with great courtesy. This was a chance for the film crew to get an introduction to the Gurdwara, and vice versa.

We have many very talented members of Bradford Movie Makers working on this project. The director is Phil Wainman, the producer is myself, editing is by Dave Marshall and Phil Wainman and narration is by Gita Mistry.

The film crew is comprised of Bob Jordan, Ian Eggleston, Craig Sands, Jeremy Norman, Andrew Cockerill, Phil Wainman, Harry Nicholls, Joe Ogden and Jim Walker, with Judith Simpson and Ed Davies on Sound.

We have many other projects in the pipeline.

* Dave Marshall is a member of Bradford Movie Makers, one of the oldest amateur film-making societies in the world.

The historic club is the subject of critically acclaimed Bafta-longlisted film A Bunch of Amateurs, which was released in cinemas last year and won Best Documentary at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

As reported in the T&A last month, Dave and the archive team are in the process of digitising the club’s collection of hundreds of films, dating back to 1934.

Based in Little Horton, the club was founded in 1932, as Bradford Cine Circle. It later became Bradford Cine and Video Club, then Bradford Movie Makers.