Stockton Sikh Temple draws 19,000 to 27th Nagar Kirtan as Punjabi Devils founder faces federal prison
Stockton South Asian community made news on two contrasting fronts this spring: the Sikh Temple annual Nagar Kirtan parade drew more than 19,000 celebrants to Gurdwara Sahib Stockton for Vaisakhi, while a federal court recorded the guilty plea of the 27-year-old founder of the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club on federal weapons charges. Together the two stories reflect the breadth of South Asian community life in California Central Valley, from one of the region largest and most festive annual gatherings to a federal prosecution involving a local outlaw gang leader seeking to flee the country.
🎉 Stockton Sikh Temple 27th Nagar Kirtan parade honors Vaisakhi legacy
The Stockton Sikh Temple held its 27th annual Nagar Kirtan parade on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the historic Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, also known as the Sikh Temple, located at 1930 Sikh Temple St in Stockton. The event, which observes and celebrates Vaisakhi, one of the most significant Sikh festivals, draws more than 19,000 people each year, making it one of the largest Sikh gatherings in California and a defining occasion in the greater Stockton area. Admission to the parade and the associated festival is free and open to the public. Victoria Franco reported for The Stockton Record on April 17, 2026, previewing the upcoming event and describing the Gurdwara Sahib Stockton as a recognised historic landmark with a heritage spanning well over a century. The Stockton Record referenced a 2012 feature on Sikhs honoring their rich history in Stockton and a 2014 story on the strong and enduring roots of the Sikh community in the city, both pointing to the deep presence of South Asian immigrants and their descendants in San Joaquin County across multiple generations. The subheadline of the preview article described the Nagar Kirtan as a festive event that honours a legacy more than 100 years strong, reflecting the Sikh community long history of presence and public celebration in Stockton. The parade photo gallery, which The Stockton Record referenced from a prior year, captures the scale and colour of the annual procession, which brings together devotees, community members, and visitors from across the region each spring in a public expression of Sikh heritage, faith, and seva. [1]
Punjabi Devils founder pleads guilty to federal gun charges, faces 15 years
Jashanpreet Singh, a 27-year-old Lodi resident and the founder of the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club in Stockton, pleaded guilty on a Monday in early February 2026 to federal firearms charges, according to Desert Sun reporting dated February 3, 2026. Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney Office for the Eastern District of California alleged that Singh attempted to sell illegal weapons to an undercover law enforcement officer. After making an initial court appearance, Singh fled before sentencing proceedings could continue, and was subsequently arrested at San Francisco International Airport while preparing to board a flight to India. Authorities describe the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club as a regional outlaw gang with ties to the Hells Angels and have described Singh as the group leader. Court documents released by the U.S. Attorney Office for the Eastern District of California detailed the chain of events leading to his arrest. Singh was originally indicted in August 2025 on the firearms case, according to a prior Desert Sun article referenced in the February 2026 report. Having now entered a guilty plea, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison and was scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026. The Desert Sun, reporting under the USA TODAY Network, filed the story as California news, reflecting the regional significance of federal prosecutions involving South Asian affiliated motorcycle clubs operating across the Central Valley, including the Stockton and Lodi corridors of San Joaquin County. [3]
Sources: [1] The Stockton Record · [3] The Desert Sun