40,000 line Sandwell's streets in one of world's biggest Vaisakhi festivals
An estimated 40,000 people lined the streets of Sandwell to celebrate one of the biggest Vaisakhi festivals in the world.
The holy procession started outside the Gurdwara Baba Sang Ji in St Paul's Road, Smethwick and made its way to Handsworth Park where it met up with another march from Hockley.
Together around 100,000 revellers took part in the two parades.
The festival celebrates the creation of the Khalsa - one of the most significant events in the history of Sikhism - and also marks the coming of spring.
Revellers started to gather early in the morning, many of them dressed in the Khalsa's traditional colours of orange and blue.
The procession, known as Nagar Kirtan, was led by the Panj Piare - representing the first Sikhs to be baptised by the Guru - on a float containing the holy Sikh scripture the Guru Granth Sahib.
Along the way they took in three other places of worship - Guru Nanak Gurdwara in High Street, Smethwick, Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji and Gurdwara Bebe Nanaki Ji, both in Handsworth.
Jagdev Singh, a member of Birmingham's Council of Sikh Gurdwaras, said the parade was probably the largest open air Vaisakhi meeting outside India.
"The festival is always big," he added. "People from all backgrounds gather to celebrate the creation of the Sikh faith.
"It's a joyous occasion. Not only is this the biggest open air celebration outside of the Punjab, but it's the only gathering where two parades converge."
Along the route refreshments, which included traditional Indian food, were served up free of charge by an army of volunteers.
Once the parade reached Handsworth Park people were able to take in live bhangra music, dancing, entertainment from Dhol drummers and a variety of food, craft and charity stalls.
Vaisakhi was also celebrated in Walsall with a three-mile parade that started and ended at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in West Bromwich Street, Caldmore.
The temple has recently undergone a half-a-million pound refurb. Its impressive new Sachkhand Sahib Ji opened to the public for the first time the day before the festivities.
