Sikh Nagar Kirtan parade brings colour and joy to Te Puke, with over 6000 participants

The five Nishanchis carrying the Nishan Sahib or Sikh flags.

The local Sikh community put on a display of colour and friendliness on Saturday.

The annual Nagar Kirtan - Sikh Parade - has become a much-anticipated event and the weekend’s parade was no exception.

“I think it was quite good and everybody enjoyed it,” says Bay of Plenty Sikh Association secretary Lehmber Singh.

The parade makes its way down on Atuaroa Ave.

He estimates there were at least 6000 people taking part in the parade, which had a slightly shortened route, turning around at the Boucher Ave roundabout.

Lehmber says that gave people more time to enjoy the food at several roadside stalls and meant the parade returned to the temple in good time.

“The people I talked to from the wider community, they were very happy and they are enjoying it every year,” he says.

Religious preacher Hardev Singh.

He says he wants to say “thank you” on behalf of the association.

“We are very thankful to everybody from the wider community and we invite them to join us again next year.”

He says he is also happy to hear from anyone who may have suggestions as to how the parade might be improved.

Nagar Kirtan is the Sikh custom of processional singing of holy hymns through a community. Nagar means neighbourhood and kirtan describes the singing of devotional hymns.