COLLEGE & TEMPLE JOIN FORCES OVER LUNCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

College and temple join forces over lunch

A Sikh temple provided a free lunch for hundreds at a college.

Staff and volunteers at Leicester College served about 500 people with vegetarian food donated by Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in Leicester.

The Langar on Campus – called after a Punjabi word meaning community kitchen – was organised by Leicester College's learner engagement and enrichment (LEET) multi-faith chaplaincy team.

It was the third hosted by Leicester College and took place at the Abbey campus. 

The lunch aimed to promote selfless service, equality and humanity and formed part of the celebrations of the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, which began on April 13. 

Sharen Ravat, Leicester College's LEET student liaison officer, organised the event.

She said: "The chaplaincy team works together to promote harmony and respect in the college and the wider communities it serves.

"This was a great opportunity to sit, eat and engage together in an environment that ensures equality and provides a platform for inter-faith dialogue."

SIKHS BRING A SPLASH OF COLOUR & MUSIC TO LEICESTER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Sikhs bring a splash of colour and music to Leicester

by Tom Mack

More than 15,000 people were drawn to the city centre yesterday for one of the most colourful parades of the year.

The annual Vaisakhi procession saw people from Sikh temples all over the region parade through the centre of Leicester from the temple in Holy Bones, near St Nicolas Circle, to the temple in East Park Road, Evington.

Drums and religious songs reverberated through the streets as the crowds made there way along the three-mile route, with drinks and snacks to keep them going.

The procession was headed by a drummer on the back of a vehicle, followed by more than a dozen barefoot sweepers, clearing the streets with brooms ahead of the flag and sword bearers.

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi commemorates the founding in 1699 of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, and for Hindus marks the start of the New Year.

The first vehicle in the parade, with musicians and the scriptures known as the Guru Granth Sahib, was followed by dozens of school children. Behind them were more vehicles and thousands more people.

As the parade made its way through the city, more and more people joined in.

Gurjeet Kaur, 32, of the Narborough Road area of Leicester, who was there with her family, said: "We come every year and it's always a very happy event.

"People come from a long way away because this is the biggest event of the year for us and although there are others elsewhere in the UK, this is the best.

"There are thousands of people.

"We love coming to follow it through the city and sing traditional songs.

"There are snacks along the way to keep our energy up – lots of samosas and drinks."

 

Balbir Singh Ram, 40, of Braunstone Town, Leicester, was also there with his family.

He said: "I've done this every year since I was little and it's lovely on days like this when the sun's out.

"A lot of people join the parade as it moves along but a lot of other people, who aren't Sikhs, come and watch, so I think it's a good multi-cultural event as well.

"Leicester City Council and the police always make a big effort and they're to be applauded."

It was the first parade for three-year-old Gurnnoor Singh, of Belgrave.

His dad, Satinder, 42, said: "Last time he was in his pram so this is the first time he's walking and I'm sure he'll make it the whole way.

"It's a long way but we never feel tired because we're celebrating and so everyone's happy.

"It's a very nice event and it's lovely weather, too."

In the last four processions combined, more than £16,000 was collected for charities along the way.

This year the collection was in aid of Anthony Nolan, Leicester General Hospital's kidney unit, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare and the Sukrit Education Trust.

Leicester City councillor Inderjit Singh Gugnani, who represents Knighton ward, was among the organisers of the event.

He said: "The nicest thing about the day is when I see people from other communities opening their doors and being interested in what's happening."

IT'S WALL-TO-WALL FOOD AS DONATIONS POUR IN

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

It's wall-to-wall food as donations pour in

Food donations were delivered by the van-load as Leicester's Sikh community rallied together for a charity food drive.

More than 10,000 items, including canned goods, rice and pasta were collected on Saturday at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, to coincide with a special day in the religion's calendar.

Vaisakhi celebrates Khalsa, the formation of the Sikh community in 1699. It is marked the world over by Sikh worshippers and is traditionally a time to help others.

Thousands of people took along bags of food to the charity event, as well as ordering items online and having them delivered to the venue by supermarket vans.

It was estimated that the total weight of the donations was about seven tons.

Amandeep Rai, of the Leicestershire Sikh Alliance, which organised the event, said: "It's been a constant stream of food, it's been amazing. We've had vans turning up with bags full of food – we've got at least 10,000 items, if not a lot more.

"We've had volunteers constantly sorting the food into piles, and the piles have just continued to grow."

Amandeep said one of the central beliefs of Khalsa was the principal of Seva, which means selfless service, and that was why the food drive had been organised.

The alliance will donate the collected food to a number of charities including FareShare Leicester, the British Red Cross and the Dawn Centre, a homeless shelter in Conduit Street, Leicester city centre.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth went along to show his support for the drive.

He said: "It's absolutely amazing – there's just wall-to-wall food. Tins of beans, rice, vegetables, pasta – anything you can think of, I'm so impressed.

"It's a tribute to the Leicester Sikh community which has really outdone itself."

TEMPLES TO COLLECT FOOD FOR THE POOR

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Temples to collect food for the poor

The city's Sikh community will be collecting thousands of pounds worth of food to help the poor and celebrate Vaisakhi.

The festival of Vaisakhi, when farmers traditionally give thanks for their harvests, takes place on Saturday, April 13.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar.

The occasion, which dates back more than 300 years, not only celebrates the Sikh New Year and harvest but also commemorates the establishment of the sacred Khalsa ceremony in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, when Sikhism was transformed.

At the East Park Road temple, in Leicester, which is attended by up to 25,000 visitors each week, there will be a food drive for the British Red Cross, Fareshare and Leicester's Dawn Centre homeless shelter.

Temple secretary Surinderpal Singh Rai said: "This is a new thing this year, and we're doing it because it's needed in this economic climate.

"Our temple has a kitchen that serves free food to a few hundred needy people each week, so we see the increasing importance of this sort of help.

"Our food drive will just be for packaged, non-perishable things such as rice, beans and cereal, as well as toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.

"I know our community here will be very generous. I'm sure we'll get items worth a total of several thousand pounds."

The temple, which is known as the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, will be holding the food drive in partnership with Oadby Gurdwara.

As well as worshipping, Vaisakhi is a time of the year when selfless service is encouraged.

Simone Connolly, Fareshare's project manager for Leicestershire, said: "This will make a big difference as the food will be distributed to our community groups who help almost 2,000 of the most deprived people in the county.

"We are also very keen to engage with the different communities in Leicestershire, so we're happy to be working with the Sikh temples."

During the food drive, a marquee will be set up as a collection point, outside the East Park Road temple. Food will be collected between 9am and 4pm.

For religious reasons, donations should not include any meat, eggs or alcohol.

The food drive comes the weekend before Leicester's Vaisakhi parade, which will see thousands of Sikhs from across the region joining a colourful parade from Holy Bones, in the city centre, to the East Park Road temple.

It will take place on Sunday, April 21.

Mr Singh Rai said: "I'd expect between 15,000 and 20,000 people will attend, depending on the weather.

"We've had a few wet and cold years recently but on a good day the event gets up to 35,000 people."

THOUSANDS JOIN SIKH HOLY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LEICESTER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Thousands join Sikh holy day celebrations in Leicester

Thousands of people lined the streets yesterday to celebrate the birthday of the founder of the Sikh religion.

Brightly-decorated floats led a parade of up to 15,000 worshippers from the Guru Tegh Bahadar Gurdwara, in East Park Road, Leicester, to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara at Holy Bones, near St Nicholas Circle.

The Nagar Kirtan event, which has been staged in Leicester for more than 20 years, marks the birthday of the first Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

For Harbhajan Singh, 70, from Rowley Fields, it was a very important day.

"It is like Christmas day for us," he said. "There is lots of singing and praying all over the world."

The celebration began with prayers and hymns at the Guru Tegh Bahadar Gurdwara, before the procession took three hours to snake its way through the city.

Food stalls lined the route, pumping out songs to the passing crowds.

Manjit Kaur from the Narborough Road area attended the temple with her 10-year-old son, Vikram.

"I think like all celebrations, it has become more commercialised and has become more about coming together and being with family," the 37-year-old said. "But still, it is a very important day because it is the celebration of the first Guru's birthday."

Vikram said: "I think my favourite part is the food."

Worshippers carried on the celebrations with more prayers and food at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

Grace and Sharanpal Singh from Braunstone Town, were there with one-year-old daughter Heer.

Dad Sharanpal, 30, said: "Today is very important.

"We will have prayers in the gurdwara and a community meal together."

Wife Grace, 27, said: "It is the one day where you get to see all the people from the community together."

Kabeer Singh, 28, from Oadby, was there with friends, carrying flags as part of the parade.

"It is a bit of a get together with old friends," he said. "A bit of a party."

Nagar Kirtan is the second of two religious processions by members of the Sikh community in Leicester every year.

The first is Vaisakhi, the religion's new year, in April.

THOUSANDS OF SIKHS ON STREETS OF LEICESTER FOR VAISAKHI

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Thousands of Sikhs on streets of Leicester for Vaisakhi

Thousands of worshippers took to the streets to celebrate one of the most important holidays in the Sikh calendar.

The festival of Vaisakhi brought a splash of colour to the city as dozens of brightly-coloured floats filled with singers and drummers led a procession.

The parade started at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Holy Bones, at noon.Thousands of people – many in orange turbans, scarves and robes – followed the procession, and handed out sweets and treats to onlookers.

For 10-year-old Ruben Benning it was a chance to spend time with friends and family.

The youngster, from Bushby, said: "Mostly I like it because I get to see lots of my friends along the way. It is a lot of fun.

"Also, the free food is really good."

Mum Ami, 41, said: "It is such a lovely, peaceful celebration and a chance to share our religion with each other and the rest of the city – one of the best in the world when it comes to celebrating and accepting other cultures.

"It makes me so happy when I see people from other cultures walking with us."

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi commemorates the founding in 1699 of the Sikh community, the Khalsa.

It is also observed by Hindus, who celebrate it as a harvest festival.

Hardeep Kaur, took part with her mother Amarjit, 52, and sons Dylan, eight, and Aaron, five.

Mrs Kaur, 33, from Evington, Leicester, said: "It is really important for me to bring my boys along to learn about their roots. If they do not get involved now, they won't when they are older.

"It is nice to walk around our city, too."

Dylan only had one thing on his mind. "I love the food," he said.

"That's my favourite part. It keeps me going on the long walk."

For De Montfort University students Mani Dhillon and Serina Devi, the festival was a chance to feel at home.

Serina, 19, said: "We like to come along to think about our families.

"The food does remind you of what you are missing from home, though."

Mani, 20, said: "It is also a chance to show we are proud of our values and beliefs."

The procession took several hours to reach Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, Highfields.

There, many worshippers spent the rest of the day eating, celebrating and praying.

TOP PERFORMANCES AT POPULAR FESTIVAL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Top performances at popular festival

The Vaisakhi sports festival at St Margaret's Pastures proved a big hit.

Organised by former Olympic hockey player Ajaib Singh Matharu, sports included athletics, badminton, hockey and table tennis.

The hockey attracted huge interest, with teams from Coventry, Derby, Birmingham and Leamington competing alongside Leicester sides.

Soar Valley College beat South Leicester in the under-14 final, but it was roles reversed in the under-16 final.

In the veterans final, Coventry beat Leeds after a close contest.

In athletics, Satvir Singh was the star of the day in the junior section, winning two under-seven races and finishing second in a third. The outstanding girl was Raveen Kaur.

In the under-14 age groups, the best performances came from Raj Singh and Amandeep Kaur.

The Vaisakhi (birth of Khalsa) festival is celebrated by Sikhs all over the world.

COLOURFUL AND PROUD DAY FOR THOUSANDS

From today’s Leicester Mercury:

Colourful and proud day for thousands

By Laura Elvin

An ancient festival brought a huge splash of colour and a taste of Indian culture to the streets of Leicester yesterday.

The sun shone down on thousands of worshippers who took part in a parade to mark Vaisakhi, one of the most important holidays in the Sikh calendar.

The procession started at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Holy Bones, at 11.30am.

Brightly-coloured floats filled with singers and drummers were followed by a procession of worshippers who handed out sweets and treats to crowds who gathered to watch.

Like many onlookers, Manvir Kaur joined the procession as it passed.

The 20-year-old, from Evington, said: "It's so nice to be out there, so many of us all together. It's a day where we can get dressed up, wear our turbans and scarves, and be proud to be a Sikh in Leicester."

A group of friends from City of Leicester College walked in the parade together.

Tharenuir Sawan, 18, from Scraptoft, said: "This day is everything for us. It represents our very existence – physically, mentally and spiritually.

"Just getting out and being part of our community is the best bit, and having the chance to mix and meet new people. It's a very important day for us."

Classmate Parminder Sahib, 18, from Evington said: "It's just nice to be spending time together. Everyone is not at work, not at school, and has the time to enjoy the sun and the celebration."

Vaisakhi fell on Thursday, April 14, this year, but the procession was held over until yesterday so as many people as possible could take part.

Aneeta and Ragbit Hulait, from the Narborough Road area of Leicester, joined in the parade with daughters Amareese and Kira.

Amareese, eight, said: "We like getting chocolate and treats – that's the best bit!"

Sister Kira, six, said: "For me, my favourite part of the day is eating the Indian food on the way round. It's yummy!"

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi commemorates the founding in 1699 of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa.

It is also observed by Hindus, who celebrate it as a harvest festival.

Resham Singh Sandu, Leicestershire's first Sikh high sheriff and chairman of the county's Interfaith Forum, said: "All the different cultures and faiths in Leicester and Leicestershire came together. It's such a great showcase for the city."

Fasting and feasting

Each day the Leicester Mercury publishes a pair of brief quotations from sacred or inspirational texts as its Thoughts for the Day. These appear below its Opinion column. The first of these is always from the Bible (either Old or New Testament), the second from another source, frequently one associated with a member community of Leicester Council of Faiths. Today’s quotation is from a Bahá’í text, an extract from the writings of Bahá'u'lláh: “Verily, I say, fasting is the supreme remedy and the most great healing for the disease of self and passion.”

Now, I don’t know if anyone actually reads these. I do regularly – more often from a sense of obligation than anything else. While they’re usually innocuous, Today’s has left me with an uneasy feeling. Which of our religious communities are fasting now? The Bahá’ís certainly aren’t (the annual 19-day long Baha’i fast ended at sunset on 20 March).

Just a few pages further on in today’s paper, there’s an article about Vaisakhi, illustrated with a picture of two Sikh gentlemen preparing some of the free food that will be on offer to those participating in the parade through Leicester city centre. There’s also a positive piece about an international food and drink fair coming to the city – and, for that matter, there’s one of the regular continental markets going on in the city centre this week.

So where’s the value in a quotation from any religious source about fasting today? It could easily be read to make the Bahá’ís appear mean-spirited killjoys, ascetic even – and they’re neither of those. I’m sure that the appearance of this quotation today is a coincidence. A similar quotation from the Bahá’í writings appeared during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which I remarked upon as a positive coincidence – a piece of serendipity even, with a quotation from one of our faith communities (and the smallest of them, at that) backing up the practice at that time of another (the largest). This one has the opposite effect; although I may be the only person noticing it or commenting on it.

Still, it does show the lack of thought or planning behind the selection and publication  of these texts – and for many Leicester people, they may be virtually the sole exposure to these different faiths. It would be better if it were done with just a little more thought – and an eye on the calendar.

Thousands due to join in parade

Nice piece in today's Leicester Mercury about the Vaisakhi parade that will take place in the city tomorrow. Over the past few years this has become a landmark in Leicester's calendar and it continues to go from strength to strength. This is a very positive article, with some helpful context and historical background: 

Thousands due to join in parade 

By Peter Squires & David Owen 

Up to 20,000 people are expected to take part in a parade through Leicester tomorrow to mark the Indian festival of Vaisakhi.

The colourful procession will wind its way through the centre of the city. 

It will be accompanied by devotional music, with spectators invited to join in with the festivities and share in traditional Indian delicacies. 

The Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest festival in the Punjab region and commemorates the founding of the Sikh nation in 1699. It also marks the Hindu solar new year and is observed by people of different faiths across the sub-continent. 

Visitors from across the country will swell the crowds, with up to 20,000 people expected on the day. 

Resham Singh Sandu, Leicestershire's first Sikh high sheriff and chairman of the county's Interfaith Forum, said: "Vaisakhi is a very special festival in the Sikh calendar – a time of fulfilment and giving thanks, and looking forward to the year ahead. 

"The procession will be a very lively and happy occasion, full of colour, music and dancing. 

"It's a chance for all the different cultures and faiths in Leicester and Leicestershire to come together. It's also a great showcase for the city." 

The three-hour parade will begin at about 11am at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh temple, in Holy Bones, off Vaughan Way. It will go through the city finishing at the Guru Bahadur Gurdwara temple, in East Park Road. 

Vaisakhi fell on Thursday, April 14, this year, but the procession has been held over until Sunday so as many people as possible can take part. 

Several hundred people gathered at the Holy Bones temple on Thursday – marking the end of six days of non-stop recitals from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. 

Temple vice-chairman Sulakhal Singh Dard said: "From early in the morning, the hall was full of people celebrating and bringing respect to the temple. At one point in the day, we must have had more than 500 people." 

The parade will travel along Great Central Street, Vaughan Way, St Nicholas Circle, Peacock Lane, St Martins, Greyfriars, Berridge Street, Pocklingtons Walk and Welford Place, along King Street, Regent Road, Granville Road, Evington Road, into East Park Road.

Read the article on the Mercury website, along with reader comments: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Thousands-join-parade/article-3454982-detail/article.html

15,000 SIKHS IN CELEBRATION

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

15,000 Sikhs in celebration

A rainbow of colours brightened the streets of Leicester yesterday as thousands of Sikhs celebrated the birthday of the religion's founder.

Floats led a parade of up to 15,000 worshippers from the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, at Holy Bones, near St Nicholas Circle.

The Nagar Kirtan event, which has been held in Leicester for more than 20 years, marks the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

After prayers and hymns at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, the procession took three hours to snake its way through the city.

Worshippers continued the celebration with more prayers and food at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

Sukhwinder Kaur, 44, of the East Park Road area, followed the procession with friends.

"I've been in Leicester for 26 years and every year we celebrate," he said. "We all feel proud to take part."

Friend Raman Kaur, of Evington, was there with her ten-year-old son, Onkar Singh.

Onkar said: "I like to walk with everyone and I like the nice food too."

Nagar Kirtan is the second of two religious processions by members of the Sikh community in Leicester every year.

The first is Vaisakhi, the religion's new year, which takes place in April.

Sisters Sonia and Kiran Punia, of Rushey Mead, were among those enjoying the celebrations. Sonia, 23, said: "It's just about celebrating the day and everyone coming together as a community.

"You get a real sense of pride walking through the city with so many people."

Kiran, 24, added: "We do this after the service at the temple in the morning. It's a big celebration all day."

Mohinder Sangha, the former president of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, also took part in the parade.

He said: "We get people not just from all over Leicester but from outside as well participating in this procession. It is a big celebration."

Ajmer Singh, education secretary at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, took part in the parade alongside dozens of children from the Khalsa Education Centre Punjabi School, which is based there.

Mr Singh said: "This is about involving all the community in Leicester regardless of religion, it's about celebrating."

Student Jagjit Kaur, 13, from Oadby, said: "It's about celebrating and the food is really nice. You get nice chocolate bars."

VAISAKHI

The annual Vaisakhi parade has, in the past few years, become one of the most notable faith community events in Leicester. Its route takes it through the city centre from Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones (starting at 1130) then on eastward to Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara in East Park Road (ending at 1430). Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi  as the holiest festival of their calendar. It commemorates the founding of the Khalsa (the community of saints) by Guru Gobind Singh, tenth and final living Guru, in 1699.

The Leicester Mercury (Monday 19 April) reported the parade thus:

Sun smiles on festival day as 20,000 Sikhs celebrate in Leicester

Streets were transformed into a rainbow of colour as thousands of worshippers from all over the country flocked to Leicester to mark the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

Up to 20,000 people yesterday joined a parade in glorious sunshine led by five Panj Piara, or the beloved ones, while crowds lined the streets and music rang out from decorated floats.

The procession started at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones at 11.30am and snaked its way through the city for about three hours before arriving at the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar, celebrating harvest time in India and marking the creation of the Khalsa, the Sikh baptism ceremony.

Steward Kuldip Kooner said: "It's a very important event and the parade also helps teach other communities as well as ours what it is all about."

Kam and Suky Garcha, of Scraptoft, joined in the parade with their children, Simran, 13, and Kamran, 11.

Mrs Garcha, 40, said: "It's nice to bring the kids to make sure they learn about our religion and it's a beautiful day as well."

Gita Bagrah, of Braunstone Town, also attended with members of her family.

The 38-year-old said: "I haven't been for a few years because I work shifts . I got the opportunity to come and I didn't want to miss out again because it's a great way of getting the community together."

Jaspal Minhas, president of the Leicestershire Asian Business Association, also took part. "I join in whenever I can and I think it's fantastic how the community comes together. It's one of the biggest events in the Sikh calendar and it's a great way to celebrate."

Spirits were high as the colourful procession lit up the streets.

Gurmeer Singh, 19, of Evington village, said: "So many people have come from outside – Peterborough, Manchester, London – which shows how big it is.

"It's a really enjoyable, peaceful and spiritual day for us."

Teacher Gurwinder Obhi was taking part in the parade with pupils from the Khalsa Education Centre, in East Park Road.

"It's important for the children to celebrate," she said.
Kawalpreet Singh, 23, one of dozens of volunteers helping to hand out refreshments, said: "It's taken lots of hard work but it's worth it."

Mohinder Singh Sangh, president of the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, said: "It's a beautiful day and thousands of people have turned up."

While I wouldn't claim to have walked in the parade today, I did trail along behind it for 20 minutes or so.

RED LETTER DAY ON SIKH CALENDAR

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Red letter day on Sikh calendar

Thousands are expected to take part in a procession to mark the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi tomorrow.

It will start at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones, Leicester, at 11.30am.

A route through the city centre will end at the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, at about 2.30pm.

Vaisakhi celebrates harvest time in India and also marks the creation of the Khalsa, the Sikh baptism ceremony.

It is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and about 15,000 people are expected to take part in the celebrations in Leicester.

Police are warning motorists to expect delays.

Inspector Jason Ross said: "Vaisakhi is the most important date for the Sikh community worldwide. We hope everyone who participates in this year's event, or watches the procession enjoys the celebrations.

"If motorists find themselves caught up in traffic, we would ask that they be patient until the procession ends."

Traffic diversions will be in place and officers will be patrolling to ensure a steady flow of traffic.

Organisers have encouraged participants to park near East Park Road and have arranged a shuttle bus to take them to Great Central Street.

Temporary no-waiting restrictions will be in place along the route of the procession but will be lifted afterwards.