Winnipeg Sikh celebration draws thousands downtown, days after targeted vandalism

Worshippers are pictured at Winnipeg's Nagar Kirtan on Memorial Boulevard lining up to pray on Sept. 6, 2026. The event, which celebrates the anniversary of Sikhism's holy scripture, had an increased police presence following vandalism targeting the celebration. (Milan Lukes/CTV News Winnipeg)

Thousands of Sikhs filled the streets of downtown Winnipeg to mark the anniversary of the religion’s holy book, as police increased their presence following threatening graffiti they say targeted the event.

The Nagar Kirtan parade on Sunday marked the 422nd anniversary of the Guru Granth Sahib, the religion’s holy book and what Sikhs believe is the final, eternal Guru — succeeding 10 human Gurus who came before it. The scripture was completed and installed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, in India’s Punjab region, in 1604.

Across from the Manitoba Legislative Building, a large crowd gathered at Memorial Park for a celebration featuring free food, music and scripture readings performed in song. Attendees also lined up on Memorial Boulevard for prayer.

A procession began just before 1 p.m. on Memorial Boulevard, before proceeding further downtown. Several streets were closed because of the celebration.

Jujar Brar, one of the event’s organizers, said the annual event gives the Sikh community an opportunity to come together and celebrate.

“It’s a walk where we kind of practice our values,” Brar said of the procession, which includes a float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib through the downtown core. “We kind of show what Sikhi’s all about as well... it’s very important for us to celebrate the community that we found here and the home we found here as well.”

Brar, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, said the parade has been a fixture of his life for as long as he can remember.

“It’s a very important event to me and a lot of people within our community here... it’s always something we look forward to every year, being able to come together as a community alongside the larger Winnipeg community as well.”

Harbans Singh Brar, president of the Sikh Society of Manitoba, said the organization has helped put on the event, which is open to all, for more than two decades.

“We are all together… we want to tell the people we always pray for humanity,” he said.

Gurpreet Sidhu was among those in the procession, a member of the Royal Riders motorcycle group, which was formed in 2016 and tries to ride together every weekend.

“We try to show support to the community and giving back to the city that we live and earn from, and just another way of showing gratitude,” Sidhu said.

He described the event as a reflection of core Sikh teachings.

“It’s about earning an honest living and giving back to the community,” he said.

Increased police presence following vandalism report

This year’s celebration came with an increased police presence after the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed it received a report on Friday that several transit boards had been “defaced with graffiti displaying hateful symbols and threats targeting [Nagar Kirtan].”

Const. Claude Chancy, a Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson, said the incident is being treated as a potential hate-motivated crime and will be tasked to the Major Crime Unit’s hate crime co-ordinators for investigation.

Chancy told CTV News police presence and patrols would be increased in and around the event Sunday, in an emailed statement before it got underway.

Jujar Brar said the vandalism comes amid heightened tensions the community has felt in recent months, but that the event’s message remains one of unity.

“It is not an event to try to separate groups, but bring everyone together,” he said.

Singh Brar said he’s since had calls with Police Chief Gene Bowers, Premier Wab Kinew and Mayor Scott Gillingham.

“This is something the city will look after. We are so proud, and the police will look after it,” he said. “Come here, enjoy your day, and stay blessed.”

Memorial Boulevard will remain closed between York Avenue and Broadway until 7 p.m. Sunday. York Avenue from Osborne Street North to Memorial Boulevard, and Broadway from Osborne Street North to Kennedy Street, will also remain closed during that time.