IT IS one of the biggest days in the Sikh calendar.

Tomorrow thousands of people from the Sikh community are expected to turn up to celebrate the Vaisakhi, which is regarded as the holiest day of the calendar.

It honours the birth of the Sikh Nation in 1699 and takes the form of continuous reading of the Sikh Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, over three days.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs, transformed the Sikhs into a family of soldier saints, known as the Khalsa Panth, and the festival marks and promotes equality and unity of humanity.

Guests will arrive outside the Southampton Civic Centre at 9.30am for the raising of the Sikh National flag called the Nishan Sahib, in attendance will be the Mayor of Southampton Cathie McEwing.

At the start of the procession there will be a minute’s silence and prayer in light of recent events in London, Stockholm and Egypt.

Members of the Sikh community will then travel from the Gurdwara Nanaksar in Peterborough Road through the city centre and Portswood passing all three of the Southampton Gurdwaras.

Sikhs will be lining the streets handing out free food and drinks to the people of Southampton.

“The council of Southampton Gurdwara’s and the Sikh community of Southampton would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Easter and Vaisakhi both here in Southampton and around the world,” said a spokesperson.

People of all faiths are welcome to join in any of the days activities, however the organisers politely request that all children are to be accompanied by an adult while attending the festival.

It will be the parents’ responsibility for any child under 10 attending the festival to collect and wear a band from the Gurdwara Campus.

It is also asked that guests heads are covered at all times, attendees walk in a line of no more than six people and that guests do not consume any tobacco or alcohol as a sign of respect.