Nagar Kirtan Draws 20,000 to Downtown Winnipeg in Landmark Sikh Celebration
Thousands of members of Manitoba's Sikh community poured into downtown Winnipeg on September 6 for the annual Nagar Kirtan procession, with organizers reporting close to 20,000 attendees. The celebration marked the 422nd anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple of Amritsar, and unfolded at Memorial Park with traditional dance, music, prayers, and food. For Harbans Singh Brar, president of the Sikh Society of Manitoba, it was a moment of community pride for a diaspora that now numbers approximately 50,000 in the province.
🎉 20,000 Mark 422nd Nagar Kirtan Anniversary at Memorial Park
Thousands of members of the Sikh community in Manitoba gathered in downtown Winnipeg on Sunday afternoon, September 6, for the annual Nagar Kirtan procession to celebrate the Sikh religion's holy scripture. The event marked the 422nd anniversary since the Guru Granth Sahib — the religion's holy book, which Sikhs believe is the last in a line of gurus — was installed in the Golden Temple of Amritsar, in India's Punjab region. Memorial Park and the surrounding area was the site of joyful celebrations featuring traditional dance, music, prayers, and food, followed by a parade through the city streets. CBC News reported that organizers said close to 20,000 people attended the event. Harbans Singh Brar, president of the Sikh Society of Manitoba, described it as a very proud moment for the community. He noted that the Sikh community in Manitoba consists of close to 50,000 people. In his words: 'We feel so proud to live in Winnipeg, we feel so proud to live in Canada.' The event was photographed by CBC's Katie Lambe, capturing the Sikh Society of Manitoba members assembled with their banner in the thousands at the downtown gathering. [1]
🤝 Downtown Streets Closed for Nagar Kirtan Procession Route
Ahead of the September 6 Nagar Kirtan, CBC News reported on September 4 that the City of Winnipeg had announced multiple downtown road closures to accommodate the annual procession for Manitoba's Sikh community. The celebration was set to begin at Memorial Park, located across Broadway from the Manitoba Legislature, on Sunday morning. Nagar Kirtan is described as an annual celebration of the Sikh holy scripture that includes a procession parading the Guru Granth Sahib, the religion's holy book, and the parade typically draws thousands to the city's downtown. The City of Winnipeg confirmed that several streets would be closed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday: Memorial Boulevard from York Avenue to Broadway, York Avenue from Osborne Street N. to Memorial Boulevard, and Broadway from Osborne Street N. to Kennedy Street. An additional set of streets was scheduled to close for approximately two hours around 12:45 p.m.: York Avenue from Memorial Boulevard to Garry Street, Garry Street from York Avenue to Broadway, and westbound Broadway from Garry Street to Memorial Boulevard. The city asked drivers to plan alternate routes and expect delays, and transit service was also expected to be affected by the procession. [3]