Surrey Vaisakhi Celebration w/ FREE food

Let's go to the bigger Vaisakhi celebration this year, too. Surrey hosts a much larger event than Vancouver. Check out the details here: http://www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca (http://www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca/)

Vaisakhi is a huge annual Sikh celebration and parade.

In many ways Sikhism is a beautiful religion in that it specifically focuses on the freedom and equality of all people. Women, for example, have entirely equal status with men in this religion.

To celebrate Vaiksakhi, besides the parade, business and families set up tables on the street and graciously offer free vegetarian food to strangers. The love and graciousness with which the food is often offered is something to experience. And the food is good! Some food is vegan but not all. Ask first if you want to be sure.

The streets are packed with people and there is lots to see--music performances, dancing, the parade and people watching are the main highlights.

We'll meet just outside the BC Hydro building (see pictures below) and start walking the route at 1:15. Since the parade and floats head counter-clockwise on the map (http://www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca/files/AW-VaisakhiParadeMaps_2013.pdf), we'll go the opposite way to be able to see them, which is South on 128 St, West on 76 Ave, North on 124 St, East on 82 Ave, and North on 128 St.

Public transit: From Surrey Central Skytrain Station, go to Bay 5, take the 323 or 324 "Newton Exchange" bus. There will be reroutes, so get as close to the temple as possible, probably around 88 Ave. For transit information, call TransLink at 604-953-3333 or go to translink.ca (http://www.translink.ca/) for details.

Parking: Mostly street parking. Some examples: Along 132 St or 128 St, North of 88 Ave. On 84 Ave near 124 St. There will be road blockages around the perimeter of the route.

Washrooms: There is one in the temple, 12885 85 Ave, and portables along the route.

If we make it to 124 St, they will be packing up by then. It ends around 4pm on the early parts of the route and around 6pm near the Temple area, which is along 128 St, North of 81 Ave.

Parade route pdf (http://www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca/files/2015-Vaisakhi-Parade-Map.pdf)

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