Nagar Kirtan Parade Gathers 19,000 in Stockton as Punjabi Devils Founder Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
Stockton, California, occupies a singular position in American Sikh history, home to one of the oldest and most storied gurdwaras in the country, and its annual Nagar Kirtan parade remains one of the largest Sikh public gatherings in the state. In early 2026, that cultural heritage shared the spotlight with a federal criminal case against the founder of a Punjabi-named motorcycle club, illustrating the full range of news emerging from California's Central Valley Punjabi community.
🎉 Stockton Sikh Temple's 27th Nagar Kirtan Brings Thousands Together for Vaisakhi
The Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, also known as the Sikh Temple, hosted the city's 27th annual Nagar Kirtan parade on Sunday, April 19, 2026. The event, formally called the Sikh Parade and Festival, is held each year to observe and celebrate Vaisakhi, one of the most significant dates in the Sikh religious calendar. More than 19,000 people attend the parade annually, according to The Stockton Record, which covered the event ahead of the April 19 date. The Gurdwara Sahib Stockton is located at 1930 Sikh Temple Street and is recognized as a historic landmark in the city, with roots in the Sikh community that stretch back well over a century. Admission to the parade is free and open to the public. The Stockton Record described the event as honoring a legacy over one hundred years strong, underscoring the depth of the Sikh presence in Stockton. The parade draws devotees, families, and community members from across the greater region who come to take part in the procession and join in the communal celebration. Vaisakhi marks both a harvest festival and the founding anniversary of the Khalsa, making the Nagar Kirtan both a religious observance and a cultural landmark event for Stockton's Punjabi Sikh population, which has shaped the city's character for generations. [1]
Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club Founder Jashanpreet Singh Pleads Guilty in Federal Weapons Case
Jashanpreet Singh, a 27-year-old resident of Lodi, California, and the founder of the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club in Stockton, pleaded guilty in early 2026 to federal firearms charges. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California alleged that Singh attempted to sell illegal weapons to an undercover law enforcement officer. Following that arrest, Singh fled and was subsequently apprehended at San Francisco International Airport, where authorities said he was preparing to board a flight to India. Federal authorities described Singh as the leader of a regional outlaw motorcycle gang with organizational ties to the Hells Angels. The Desert Sun, reporting through the USA TODAY NETWORK, noted that Singh faces up to 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing was scheduled for May 11, 2026. The Punjabi Devils had previously drawn federal law enforcement scrutiny in connection with broader criminal networks operating in the Central Valley. The case drew attention to the presence of organized criminal structures within communities that share ethnic or cultural identities, and raised questions about how law enforcement agencies approach crime within immigrant communities that have otherwise built stable, generations-deep roots in the San Joaquin Valley. [2]
Sources: [1] The Stockton Record · [2] The Desert Sun