Edmonton Sikhs Celebrate Unique Identity

May 24, 2010

Author: Jennifer Fong

Source: The Vancouver Sun/The Edmonton Journal

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Thousands+attend+Edmonton+Sikhs+parade+Sunday/3064029/story.html

His left foot encased in a hard plastic cast, Vin Panesar walked gingerly alongside the floats leading Edmonton's Nagar Kirtan parade Sunday afternoon.

The celebration of Vaisakhi is a major holiday on the Sikh calendar and a broken ankle, sustained a few weeks ago during a hockey game, did not stop Panesar from attending the annual event. "I've never missed one," said the 21-year-old.

Nagar Kirtan, he said, "represents the Sikh community. I'm patriotic and I want to show our pride. I want to show Edmonton that we're unique."

Panesar was among the thousands of people who flooded Millwoods Road for Nagar Kirtan, the one major event that brings the Sikh community together every year.