WATCH: Thousands revel in festival of Vaisakhi in Wolverhampton

The holy procession made a four-hour journey through the city from the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara on Cannock Road to West Park.

It was joined by an ever-increasing number of worshippers as it paused at nine Sikh Gurdwaras and Hindu Mandir temples on the way.

The procession included five Panj Piare, representing the first Sikhs to be baptised into the Khalsa Order by the tenth Guru in 1699.

He also ruled that in future the holy scripture – called Guru Granth Sahib – should be worshipped in place of a Guru.

The scripture was carried on a float at the head of the human tide, many of whom were dressed in Khalsa's traditional colours of orange and blue.

It was preceded by six bare-footed women symbolically sweeping clean the street that then had holy water sprinkled over it.

City centre roads were closed to allow the procession to pass and there were over 100 volunteer stewards on duty along the route.

Crowds handed out sweets to those taking part most of whom then joined the fun and games at West Park which included a fun fair, stalls, Bhangra displays, wrestling and karate demonstrations.

Prominent Asian musicians and singers also performed live on stage.

Mrs Kulwant Kaur from Arthur Street, Blakenhall who was in the park with her children – Sahib, aged nine, Daljit, 10, Sharanjit, 19 and 24-year-old Jasprit – said: "It is an important day in our year.

"It is celebrated as a great opportunity for the family to celebrate both together and with people from other faiths.

"It is an occasion for the whole community to enjoy."

Mr Harby Singh from Hadley Heath, Willenhall – at West Park with daughters Harleen, eight and six year old Priya – said: "We are really enjoying ourselves.

"We have been looking forward to it for some time and the sun came out just in time.

"This event is not just for Sikhs. Everyone is invited. I have lived in and and around Wolverhampton all my life and have seen the city becoming increasingly multi-cultural.

"More and more people are celebrating the religious festivals of those who worship a different faith and I think that is very healthy. It brings the community closer together."

Dr Sadhu Singh, vice chairman of the Wolverhampton Council of Sikh Gurdwaras who organised the event, explained: "We celebrate Vaisakhi at the temple earlier in the month but the annual festival at West Park is intended to display our rich culture in a show which the whole community can enjoy. There is something for everybody. This is a cultural and not a religious event."

Sufficient free food for around 15,000 meals was jointly prepared by Gurdwaras from throughout the the city.

The city council help with the event at West Park but the day still costs around £20,000 to stage. Every year for over 40 years, hundreds of thousands of Sikhs have marched through the streets of Britain in celebration of Vaisakhi.

They are known as Nagar Kirtans – literally neighbourhood hymn singing – where five members of the modern Khalsa lead a procession, whilst prayers are recited and free food offered to all in the vicinity.

Last week holy processions took place in Walsall and Sandwell with the latter culminating in a spectacular celebration in Birmingham's Handsworth Park that was attended by more than 100,000 people.

The festival celebrates the creation of the Khalsa in 1699.

This was one of the most significant events in the history of Sikhism — and also marks the coming of spring.

Sandwell's parade is part of one of the biggest Vaisakhi celebrations outside India's Punjab region.

This year there will be approximately 30 Nagar Kirtans throughout Britain, with anywhere from 1000-15000 people following a procession. People from any background are welcome to join in and take part.

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