Thousands Flock to Sikh Festival

April 2, 2007

Author: David Doyle

Source: Ealing Times

http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1302750.0.thousands_flock_to_sikh_festival.php

AS THE 207 bus edged towards Southall High Street, a river of orange turbans and colourful dress, I started to feel like I was gatecrashing a stranger's party.

Though I have a couple of Sikh friends, in reality I know very little about the faith, and the sight of thousands of revellers was, at first, an overwhelming one.

But within a minute of stepping off the bus I had a masoor dhal in one hand, a cup of tea in the other, and I didn't feel like a stranger any more.

At least 50,000 people took to the sun-filled Southall streets to celebrate the birthday of Khalsa on Sunday - 15,000 more people than was predicted.