AdminThe 17th annual Sikh festival will make its way into town on Sunday, drawing crowds of more than 3,500 from all over California. The free event features a festive procession with bright colors, lively music and awe-inspiring displays of sword fighting. The display of mock battles and swordsmanship is a tradition dating back more than […]
The 17th annual Sikh festival will make its way into town on Sunday, drawing crowds of more than 3,500 from all over California.
The free event features a festive procession with bright colors, lively music and awe-inspiring displays of sword fighting. The display of mock battles and swordsmanship is a tradition dating back more than 300 years.
The festival also gives attendees a taste of many traditional foods.
The parade will last about four hours, beginning at noon at the Gurdwara Sahib Temple at 2765 Peach Ave., then move along Main Street to the Guru Nanak Temple on B Street.
Livingston Mayor Pro Tem Gurpal Samra, who helps organize the event, said it isn’t only for Sikhs, but for everyone in Livingston and beyond. Thousands of people from Fresno, Los Angeles and the Bay Area make their way to Livingston for one of the biggest Sikh events in the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, temperatures will drop in time for the festival. The forecast for Sunday is sunny with a high of 82 degrees, providing much-needed relief from Friday and Saturday’s temperatures, which have spiked to the mid-90s.
“The winds should be light in the morning and afternoon on Sunday,” said William Peterson, meteorologist technician with the National Weather Service.
The Sikh festival is funded solely by donations, according to organizers.
Sikhism is a religion that was founded in India. It has 27 million followers, more than 5 million of them living outside India. Sikhs make up nearly 20 percent of Livingston’s population.
~ Source: www.mercedsunstar.com