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Thousands enjoy Vaisakhi procession in city

Jules Singh Image shows a residential road filled with hundreds of people, in the middle is a decorated lorry which the crowd is close to on either side. In the foreground of the image are a group of Sikh men dressed in traditional orange clothes and turbans. Jules Singh
The colourful parade, the Nagar Kirtan, weaved through the streets

Thousands of people from the Sikh community have taken part in the annual Vaisakhi parade in Wolverhampton.

Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, is the festival that celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699.

It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab region of India until it became Sikhism's most important event.

Sunday's vibrant parade, the Nagar Kirtan, weaved through the streets - a traditional colourful procession that goes around residential areas while people sing holy songs.

A decorated lorry led by community elders was at the centre of the crowd, hundreds of people either side it.

MPs Pat McFadden and Warinder Juss were among delegrates attending the annual event, which is organised by the gurdwara in Sedgley Street.

Thousands more will be expected to attend the Vaisakhi festival in the city next month, which takes place at West Park on 3 May.

Organised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton, the free event will include a fun fair, stalls and popular Asian musicians and singers on stage.

It will run from 12:00 BST to 17:00 BST.

Jules Singh Image shows a Sikh temple, a large red brick building with a large sign bearing it's name: Sedgley Street - in front of the building are hundreds of people, the backs of their heads are facing the camera and they are wearing turbans of all colours and scarfs.Jules Singh
Crowds gathered outside the gurdwara in Sedgley Street
Jules Singh A white man in a black suit and a white shirt and orange scarf around his head smiles next to a man in a grey suit, blue shirt and black turban. Both are wearing sunglasses and behind them are hundreds of people watching a procession Jules Singh
MPs Pat McFadden and Warinder Juss attended alongside the communities they represent
Jules Singh Four men dressed in beige suits and orange turbans speak from microphones outside the gurdwaraJules Singh
The gurdwara in Wolverhampton organises the event each year
Jules Singh Five people are looking at the camera - it is a selfie, taken by a man in a checked shirt and black gilet and a patterned turban. Next to him is a woman in a bright pink outfit and a cream coloured scarf around her head, the two MPs pictured previously and a woman with a blue scarf and long brown hair. All are smiling.Jules Singh

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