West Park will come alive to the sights and sounds of the annual Vaisakhi Festival this weekend.

The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton together with the Asian community is holding its annual cultural festival on Sunday (5 May, 2013) between 11am and 5pm.

Highlights include entertainment for all the family, from a fun fair and stalls to wrestling and karate demonstrations and Bhangra displays. Prominent Asian musicians and singers will demonstrate their talents during a special stage show while an exhibition will reveal more about the cultural and historic significance of the festival.

There will also be speeches by religious leaders and politicians, while local organisations will showcase their services in the City Marquee. Free food will be served throughout the day.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival, and this year marks the 314th Anniversary of the Creation of the Khalsa Order and making of Saint-Solider by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.

Councillor Elias Mattu said: "I would like to invite as many people as possible from across all of Wolverhampton's communities to come along and enjoy Sunday's celebrations. It promises to be a fantastic event for all the family.

"I would also like to thank the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras and its chair Balraj Singh Atwal who have put a great deal of work into making the festival possible."

  • released: Thursday 2 May, 2013