Despite scattered showers, the 36th annual Sikh Parade and Festival on Sunday in Yuba City was a success, according to organizers. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world descended upon northwest Yuba City and celebrated Sikhism.
10:06 a.m.
California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Burks directed traffic at Tierra Buena and Pease roads, where cars and people converge en route to the parade.
"If I'm not working, I try to come for the parade," said Burks, who has lived in the area with his wife and children for eight years. "We've been able to walk most of the parade route and took our bikes one year."
"There are so many people in one small area it makes parking a challenge, especially with the rain and the mud."
10:24 a.m.
All dressed up despite the rain, Jeevan Aasha Sangha of Yuba City brought her children Inderpreet, Ivneet and Harshan to the parade.
"We get a chance to celebrate who we are and make sure we have the rights we deserve because were having some trouble with that in India now," said Inderpreet Sangha, 16.
Her father, Jaswinder Sangha, drove one of the floats during the parade, and her little brother was looking forward to joining in on the ride.
"It's pretty fun because I can sit on the tractor that my dad is driving," said Harshan Sangha, 5.
10:45 a.m.
The main float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, or Sikh Holy Scriptures, exits the Sikh Temple grounds onto Tierra Buena Road with thousands of followers in tow sharing offerings of money and snapping images of the ornately decorated float.
10:53 a.m.
Ramandeep Singh of San Jose came to the Sikh Parade for the first time with several friends and was impressed by the sheer number of people in attendance.
"It's been a really good experience seeing all the people in the crowd," Singh said.
11:08 a.m.
Sikh Temple director Tejinder Dosanjh was keeping track of things in front of the float and said festivities were running smooth.
"Everything looks good; it's very exciting and everyone is peaceful," said Dosanjh, of Yuba City. "The celebration will go on every year, no matter what's going on in India."
He said there were more than 200 vendors and more was spent on security, as well.
"We are one family celebrating our religion and holy book," said Dosanjh, who added the great community support for the festival and parade are essential to its success.
11:27 a.m.
Karen Dosanjh of Fairfield was snapping images of the main float as it passed by an area where supporters of a separate Punjab state in India were holding signs.
"That's what makes this country so great, because there's a separation of religion and politics," Dosanjh said.
She's been coming to the festival and parade for 17 years and said it's a good reminder to practice the Sikh tenet of Seva, which means selfless service.
"It's unfortunate that there's political unrest in India and the loss of life is tragic but there's been political unrest for thousands of years," Dosanjh said. "We as a people need to learn to get along."
11:36 a.m.
Tejwant Shoookar of Union City loaded the back of his white, lifted truck with drinks to give to passers-by along the route.
"It's a sweet feeling sharing the peace of life here," said Shoookar, who has been coming to the parade for the past few years.
12:11 pm.
Sonja Maldonado first came to the Sikh Parade five years ago and has been bringing her family ever since.
"The first year it was kind of shocking because I wasn't use to this culture," said Maldonado, a Yuba City resident. "It was very interesting."
Maldonado brought her family and the Joyal family — a total of eleven people with children of all ages.
"For the children, it's good to see how different cultures live and eat," said Maldonado, as they all feasted on Punjabi food.
1:18 p.m.
Annu Kumari, 11, and Armaan Summan, 7, both of Yuba City, play a game of tag with several other children at Tierra Buena and Butte House roads as the main float approached.
"The best part about the parade is this field that you can play on," said Kumari, who was playing with several friends from Yuba City. "You get to meet people, buy toys and there's lots of free candy."
10:06 a.m.
California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Burks directed traffic at Tierra Buena and Pease roads, where cars and people converge en route to the parade.
"If I'm not working, I try to come for the parade," said Burks, who has lived in the area with his wife and children for eight years. "We've been able to walk most of the parade route and took our bikes one year."
"There are so many people in one small area it makes parking a challenge, especially with the rain and the mud."
10:24 a.m.
All dressed up despite the rain, Jeevan Aasha Sangha of Yuba City brought her children Inderpreet, Ivneet and Harshan to the parade.
"We get a chance to celebrate who we are and make sure we have the rights we deserve because were having some trouble with that in India now," said Inderpreet Sangha, 16.
Her father, Jaswinder Sangha, drove one of the floats during the parade, and her little brother was looking forward to joining in on the ride.
"It's pretty fun because I can sit on the tractor that my dad is driving," said Harshan Sangha, 5.
10:45 a.m.
The main float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, or Sikh Holy Scriptures, exits the Sikh Temple grounds onto Tierra Buena Road with thousands of followers in tow sharing offerings of money and snapping images of the ornately decorated float.
10:53 a.m.
Ramandeep Singh of San Jose came to the Sikh Parade for the first time with several friends and was impressed by the sheer number of people in attendance.
"It's been a really good experience seeing all the people in the crowd," Singh said.
11:08 a.m.
Sikh Temple director Tejinder Dosanjh was keeping track of things in front of the float and said festivities were running smooth.
"Everything looks good; it's very exciting and everyone is peaceful," said Dosanjh, of Yuba City. "The celebration will go on every year, no matter what's going on in India."
He said there were more than 200 vendors and more was spent on security, as well.
"We are one family celebrating our religion and holy book," said Dosanjh, who added the great community support for the festival and parade are essential to its success.
11:27 a.m.
Karen Dosanjh of Fairfield was snapping images of the main float as it passed by an area where supporters of a separate Punjab state in India were holding signs.
"That's what makes this country so great, because there's a separation of religion and politics," Dosanjh said.
She's been coming to the festival and parade for 17 years and said it's a good reminder to practice the Sikh tenet of Seva, which means selfless service.
"It's unfortunate that there's political unrest in India and the loss of life is tragic but there's been political unrest for thousands of years," Dosanjh said. "We as a people need to learn to get along."
11:36 a.m.
Tejwant Shoookar of Union City loaded the back of his white, lifted truck with drinks to give to passers-by along the route.
"It's a sweet feeling sharing the peace of life here," said Shoookar, who has been coming to the parade for the past few years.
12:11 pm.
Sonja Maldonado first came to the Sikh Parade five years ago and has been bringing her family ever since.
"The first year it was kind of shocking because I wasn't use to this culture," said Maldonado, a Yuba City resident. "It was very interesting."
Maldonado brought her family and the Joyal family — a total of eleven people with children of all ages.
"For the children, it's good to see how different cultures live and eat," said Maldonado, as they all feasted on Punjabi food.
1:18 p.m.
Annu Kumari, 11, and Armaan Summan, 7, both of Yuba City, play a game of tag with several other children at Tierra Buena and Butte House roads as the main float approached.
"The best part about the parade is this field that you can play on," said Kumari, who was playing with several friends from Yuba City. "You get to meet people, buy toys and there's lots of free candy."
