As many as 85,000 Sikhs thronged street downtown leading up to Nathan Phillips Square today to mark the 29th annual Khalsa Day parade. It is intended to mark the birth of Sikhism and Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year. The event is filled with traditional music, hymns, prayers, and food served from the langar, a communal kitchen. The Khalsa Day Parade began at Exhibition Place and went along Lake Shore heading to Nathan Phillips Square. Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Don Valley West MP John Carmichael, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau were all present at one time or another for the parade. Since its inauguration in Toronto in 1986 with 2,000 people, the event has grown to become the city’s third largest parade, featuring colourful floats, martial arts performers and members of the community dressed in traditional saffron colours. Everyone attending is asked to bring donations of non-perishable food items for the annual food drive by Sikh youth for the Daily Bread Food Bank. More than 15,000 pounds of food donations were collected at last year’s event. Khalsa Parade marks Sikh faith, new year
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As many as 85,000 Sikhs thronged street downtown leading up to Nathan Phillips Square today to mark the 29th annual Khalsa Day parade. It is intended to mark the birth of Sikhism and Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year. The event is filled with traditional music, hymns, prayers, and food served from the langar, a communal kitchen. The Khalsa Day Parade began at Exhibition Place and went along Lake Shore heading to Nathan Phillips Square. Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Don Valley West MP John Carmichael, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau were all present at one time or another for the parade. Since its inauguration in Toronto in 1986 with 2,000 people, the event has grown to become the city’s third largest parade, featuring colourful floats, martial arts performers and members of the community dressed in traditional saffron colours. Everyone attending is asked to bring donations of non-perishable food items for the annual food drive by Sikh youth for the Daily Bread Food Bank. More than 15,000 pounds of food donations were collected at last year’s event. 
Toronto Khalsa Day Parade 2014: