An estimated 150,000 colourfully-dressed people braved the cold drizzle to attend this year’s parade in Surrey. A further 50,000 gathered along Vancouver’s Main Street for celebrations there.

Up and down 128th Street in Surrey, people streamed by the thousands all day, enjoying free food and traditional Indian music and dance from roadside stages.

A harvest festival for both Hindus and Sikhs, Vaisakhi also marks the birth date of the Khalsa, the day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh gathered 80,000 brethren and created a distinct identity for the Sikhs.

In the spirit of the "selfless service," or "seva," that is a tenet of the Sikh faith, the community offers free food, drinks and even keepsakes to all who gather in celebration. Up and down 128th Street this past Saturday, children paraded with cotton candy and balloons, while their parents gulped down traditional delicacies and cups of hot tea.

Babar Tumber said the whole month of April is a celebration for him.

"Every single day I went to the temple to make it ready, to make the food, to prepare the flowers for the temple float. Most days, 7 a.m. to midnight, non-stop making food.

"I just enjoy the whole festival and giving to the community."

The efforts of the Tumber family, and the thousands of other families who give of their time and resources, paid off again this year.

Four young friends from Surrey – Anisha, Deepak, Rosy, and Ami – may be of the new generation, but they deeply admire and respect the efforts made by their elders at the annual Vaisakhi parades.

"It’s about our heritage more than anything else," said Rosy, warming herself with a cup of hot chai.

Asked if they were headed off to catch some music and dance on one of the many stages, the girls said they were in fact off to give thanks.

"We’re going to the Gurdwara to meditate," said Anisha.

Major Tumber said his extended family always attends the Surrey celebration.

"In Surrey the crowd is 150,000 and they have so much respect. The people walking in front of the float. . . no shoes, no socks, they are very religious. It is good in Vancouver too, but here they have the most people thinking of the religion and what they are saying. Vancouver is more of a community festival."

Major said Surrey this year saw twice as many stalls as last. He said spirits were high and joy was in the air.

"People were very emotional touching the float or the rope (which surrounds the float), he said. "It was a very nice time, people were so happy."