More than 5,000 Sikhs march in East London to celebrate first parkash of Guru Granth Sahib

Thousands from the borough’s Sikh community sang hymns as they marched between gurdwaras in Barking and Seven Kings to mark the maiden parkash of Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikh movement Singh Sabha London East held a Nagar Kirtan – a procession involving the singing of holy hymns – from the Gurdwara in North Street, Barking, to the Gurdwara in High Road, Seven Kings on Saturday (9 Sept 2018).

More than 5,000 Sikhs and non-Sikhs came together to celebrate the first revelation of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple in Punjab during the year 1604, reported Ilford Recorder.

Among the attendees were Ilford South MP Mike Gapes, Council leader Jas Athwal, Redbrige Mayor Cllr Debbie Kaur-Thiara, police officers and Sikh Women’s Alliance chairwoman Balvinder Saund.

In a Facebook update at Singh Sabha London East, it said: “With Waheguru’s blessing the 2018 Nagar Kirtan was a massive success. The members of the Sangat turned out in their 1000s joining in singing Gurbani and doing seva. The weather was great and everything ran smoothly.”