[Photograph of a group of individuals on a float at the Nagar Kirtan in Vancouver]

Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals on a float at a Nagar Kirtan in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.). The Nagar Kirtan was organized by the Khalsa Diwan Society of Vancouver to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Khalsa.

Khalsa, a purified and reconstituted Sikh community, was instituted by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, on March 30, 1699. His declaration had three dimensions: it redefined the concept of authority within the Sikh community; it introduced a new initiation ceremony and code of conduct; and it provided the community with a new religious and political vision. Khalsa is used to denote both the body of initiated Sikhs and the community of all Sikhs. The creation of Khalsa is commemorated during the Vaisakhi festival by Sikhs.

The Khalsa Diwan Society is a pioneer Sikh society, one of the oldest in Vancouver, formed on July 22, 1902 in British Columbia, Canada, formally established in 1906. In 1908, the Society purchased and built the first Sikh temple in Vancouver, which was located on West 2nd Avenue. This is believed to be the first Sikh temple in the whole of the American continent. This temple served the Sikh community until a new temple was occupied on April 25, 1970. The original temple was sold to build a bigger (present) temple located on Ross Street. The Khalsa Diwan Society has been a pioneer in raising Sikhi related issues and getting recognition for Sikhs in Canada. It continues to build a strong community based on Sikh values and principles. Every year the society organizes sports activities, including soccer and wrestling tournaments.