It’s one of the most significant and visible events on the Tauranga Sikh community calendar – the rich and vibrant annual Sikh Sangat Tauranga Parade on Sunday morning, January 14.

“A very exciting time, a wonderful time for the Sikh community,” says Puran Singh, one of the parade organisers and president of the Tauranga Sikh community.

The occasion has taken on new status this year as a Sikh high priest is coming from Punjab especially for the festival, as is a representative of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which Puran likens to the Sikh mini parliament in India.

It’s responsible for all the Sikh places of worship in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

A previous Sikh Sangat Tauranga Parade. Photo: SunLive.

There are an estimated 10,000 Sikhs in the Bay of Plenty, many of whom are expected for Sunday’s big bright and vibrant parade. But the invitation is widened. “

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us,” says Puran.

The Sikh Tauranga Parade, which celebrates the birth of the 10th Guru, is a day equivalent to Christians celebrating Christmas and the birth of Christ.

The parade starts with speeches outside the Gurudwara Sikh Sangat at 42 Burrows St, Tauranga, at 11am on Sunday, January 14.

A previous Sikh Sangat Tauranga Parade. Photo: SunLive.

It will then make its way to 14th Ave and on to Devonport Rd by Tauranga Boys’ College.

The parade will stop at the college carpark for about half an hour, before walking on to Memorial Park and back along Fraser St and 13th Ave to Burrows St again.

People are invited to join in for all or part of the very symbolic journey.

Puran’s expecting the weather to be kind for the parade.

Road closures during the parade

To ensure the safety of all participants of the Sikh Parade, the following road closures and rolling closures will be in place:

Road closure, 11am – 3pm: 

• Burrows Street from Fourteenth Avenue to Fifteenth Avenue 

Rolling road closure, 11am – 3pm. These roads will reopen as the parade progresses: 

• Fourteenth Avenue from Burrows Street to Devonport Road  
• Devonport Road from Fourteenth Avenue to Eleventh Avenue  
• Eleventh Avenue from Devonport Road to Fraser Street  
• Fraser Street from Eleventh Avenue to Thirteenth Avenue  
• Thirteenth Avenue from Fraser Street to Burrows Street  

The parade will finish at the Sikh Temple, Gurudwara Sikh Sangat, on 43 Burrows Street.

Resident and business access will be maintained throughout the parade when safe to do so, please follow the instructions of marshals and traffic management staff.