Yuba City population to more than double for 45th annual Sikh Parade this weekend
Enough people to more than double the population of Sutter County are expected to arrive in Yuba City this weekend. But that’s nothing new given the time of year.
The 45th annual Sutter County Nagar Kirtan, also known as the Sikh Parade, begins Friday night in Yuba City and continues through Sunday, when the early November parade takes place.
More than 100,000 people have attended recent iterations, with estimates that the crowd has grown each year, including unofficial estimates of about 200,000 people last year, said Sarb Thiara, board president of the Sikh Temple Gurdwara in Yuba City.
“It’s going to be just as much if not more,” he said.
Friday night kicks off the event at the temple with hymns at 8 p.m. followed by fireworks.
Saturday begins with the raising of the Nishan Sahib, known as the Sikh flag, at the temple. That’s followed by scripture readings that continue throughout the course of the weekend, culminating in the parade Sunday.
Saturday also includes open house tours of the temple grounds and scripture readings. Volunteers cook and serve food handed out for free throughout the event, with about 100 food stalls expected, said Tejinder Dosanjh, temple secretary.
The event is open to everyone.
“It’s not only for one religion, it’s for everybody, the message that God is one,” Dosanjh said.
Dosanjh has seen the event in Yuba City grow each year since its start in 1980, when it began as a gathering of a few thousand people.
“This thing is big, so big,” Dosanjh said. “It’s getting bigger and bigger.”
The parade begins outside of the temple on Sunday morning and arrives back at the temple by about 4:30 p.m., Tharb said, after following a 4.5-mile route through Yuba City.
Various parking restrictions and road closures are in place throughout the weekend.
Event security
Safety is a priority for event organizers and local law enforcement, with private security and state and federal law enforcement groups brought into the planning.
FBI officials recently warned of threats of potential gang violence at this year’s Sikh Parade, although organizers and the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office have since said that there are no specific credible or verified threats.
“This year specifically we have no direct threats,” said Sierra Pedley, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.
Donsajh said that the temple works with law enforcement agencies for months and spends about $700,000 on security for the event.
“We’re all aware of it and we’re playing it very safe,” Tharb said of the FBI warning. “We don’t see anything that is out there right now but we take precaution no matter if there’s a threat or not and the city and the county sheriff’s department, city police and FBI, everybody’s always prepared.”
