A brightly colored religious festival in Athens, Sikh Life In Greece

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A brightly colored religious festival in Athens, Sikh Life In Greece

5/1/2016

On Saturday 30 of April, , hundreds of Sikhs flooded the streets of Athens to celebrate Vaisakhi, the April holiday that celebrates both the Sikh New Year and the founding of Sikhism in 1699.
This year the Sikh community in Athens, celebrated later Vaisakhi, choosing the 30 of April and giving to all members the opporunity to participate.

The Sikh community in Greece, numbered at around 20,000 according to a 2012 report, joined together to mark the holy day, celebrating, old and young alike, in brightly colored festival clothing. Many of the participants were immigrants to Greece, part of a growing Sikh community in the European Union.
The yearly holiday is traditionally accompanied by festive processions through the streets, called nagar kirtan

source: http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/99146
Photos: Nikos Libertas / SOOC Πηγή: www.lifo.gr

2 Comments

Dave Briggs link

5/1/2016 08:37:04 pm

I would love to have seen that! Now I know, I will put it in my calendar for next year!

Urban Athens Collective link

5/1/2016 10:45:06 pm

Just keep in your mind that according to Gregorian Calendar, Baisakhi falls on April 13 every year and on April 14 once in 36 years. The Sikh community in Athens rescheduled the feast for 30 of April, because of the day off for the Greek Orthodox Easter, with this way more people had the opportunity to participate.

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