Vaisakhi 2023 celebrations in Smethwick: here are the road closures in place

Vaisakhi may be gone but it’s not done yet because Europe’s largest Gurdwara, which is in Smethwick, will be hosting celebrations this weekend. Vaisakhi - a spring harvest festival - was on April 14 this year.

Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Smethwick, which was picked by Historic England in 2018 as one of the important faith buildings in the UK, will be hosting open air celebrations on Sunday, April 23, from 11am to 5pm.

The festival traditionally takes place in open air in agricultural fields in northern India as people celebrate the birth of Khalsa and the bountiful harvest.

Which roads will be closed?

There are several road closures in place for the event. Smethwick High Street and Trinity Street will be closed on Sunday for the Open Air Vaisakhi Celebrations.

The Sikh temple shared advice: “We request to all those attending to park your vehicles in a suitable and safe space. Avoid causing a hindrance to our neighbours, other road users or emergency services. Where possible, please walk or use public transport.”

High Street traffic will be diverted via Dibble Road, Devonshire Road, Holly Lane, St Paul’s Road, Fenton Street, Tollhouse Way, and A4030 High Street.

What is happening in Smethwick this weekend?

The open air event will be an occasion for the Sikh community to come together and celebrate together. There will be bhangra dancing, dhol music, and more.

There will be Langar -a community kitchen of a gurdwara, which serves meals to all free of charge. Volunteers will be performing kar seva or voluntary labour towards cleaning and serving others.

There will also be some interesting stalls for food and other retail offerings. The event is open to people of all faiths.

What is Vaisakhi?

Vaisakhi is a spring harvest festival celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus in northern India. However, it is a very important day for Sikhs as it celebrates the day the Sikhism was established as a religion.

How is Vaisakhi celebrated?

It’s a colourful festival which includes dance and music, and the community comes together to celebrate. Sikhs visit Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) on the day and in many places, public parades are also held.