Vaisakhi

A very early start indeed, due to the first bird-survey walk being due. The general area of Pilrig was very quiet, in avian as well as in human terms. It was nice to meet Mr and Mrs Bullfinch again, quietly pecking at the buds on a little tree by the path; we see them there most years. OK, the first time it was probably their grandparents....

We noticed that the traffic cones were out and the signs were up warning of the Vaisakhi parade. Later on we went along to the gurdwara and found the parade assembling. Onlookers, including police and first-aiders, were offered bottles of water and snacks and leaflets explaining Vaisakhi. There was at least one former Bishop of Edinburgh there, respectfully wearing an orange headscarf. The parade was preceded by a slow-moving police car, then first a couple of ritual sweepers with brooms, some young chaps doing their martial art (looked a bit like fencing with wooden sticks), then a man with an amazing whirling-ball arrangement and a very powerful drummer. Next were five guys with drawn swords in bare feet, then five in orange bearing banners with the Khalsa. Then came the conveyance (the Lochend Motors tow truck) all bedecked with flowers in which was the guru and some musicians, followed by....everyone else. After we'd taken some photos and eaten some pistachio nuts we went back home, passing a very smart car parked near the gurdwara with the number plate Y6 GURU. Wow!

This was taken as the parade moved away up Mill Lane. It was very overcast with a tendency to drizzle when they set off, although by the time they got back to the temple for the big vegetarian feast they would have been in brilliant sunshine.